Developers Win Appeal To Build London Docklands Data Centre

In London’s Docklands, developers have received permission to construct a data centre and residential towers. This area covers 1.39 hectares and is situated on the western side of the old East India Import Dock. Currently, there are two office buildings on this site. The plan is to remove these buildings and build a 30-story residential tower, a 36-story student residential tower, a data centre, and a structure that can be used for flexible workspaces, community activities, or even a swimming pool.

This project was initially suggested in October 2022, but the council initially rejected it. They were concerned about the size of the buildings and how they might affect the nearby Naval Row Conservation Area. However, the council’s planning officers recommended approving the proposal because it met the requirements for affordable housing. The developers then appealed this decision in April 2023, and permission was granted later this month. The planning inspector who made this decision noted that the two office buildings marked for demolition were not very inspiring, and the redevelopment would create more open space. He also mentioned that the proposal would not negatively impact the setting of the former FT Printworks and other historical sites.

The planned data centre is expected to provide up to 35,000 square meters (about 376,700 square feet) of Class B8 (data centre) space. It could have a potential IT power capacity of 30 megawatts and include six halls, each covering 1,200 square meters (about 12,900 square feet). The facility would need 18 backup power generators with 3.3 megawatts of capacity, running on diesel fuel. The specific end-user for the data centre has not been disclosed, but there are nearby facilities owned by Global Switch and Telehouse in the vicinity.