Data centres - design, district integration and sustainability

Image: CGI from RKD of data centre campus development in Hertfordshire at South Mimms (courtesy Equinix)

Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, is joining Future Cities Forum's 'Data Centres - planning, district integration and sustainability' forum this month, to discuss the Council's approved £4bn project to build one of Europe's largest data centres within the London commuter belt.

Hertsmere Borough Council has described its project as one which will lead to significant economic benefits as developers say it will be Europe's largest cloud and AI data centre, spanning approximately 2 million square feet. It is aiming for completion by 2029. The data centre will be built near the M25 motorway and will occupy 85 acres. Thousands of jobs are expected to be needed in its construction.

The project is part of the UK's AI Action Plan, but communities across the country have been raising opposition to data centres being built near their homes with concerns about how their design fits into the town or landscape, beyond the large demand for water and power to run them.

The BBC reported last week that Ofgem has proposed new measures which could see developers of data centres made to pay hundreds of millions of pounds up front in refundable fees for projects that want to connect to the electricity network. It is proposing developers pay a deposit between £237,500 to £712,500 per megawatt, paid back if the project was completed. It says the amount of electricity capacity being requested by projects seeking to connect to the grid has risen from 41GW to 125 GW in the past year, reflecting a sharp increase in demand.

Jeremy Newmark was appointed as Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council in May 2023. As member for Borehamwood's Cowley Hill Ward he represents an area that scores as one of the highest in the country on the national indices of multiple deprivation.

Cllr Newmark was elected Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board in July 2024. Jeremy also sits on the Board of the Local Enterprise Partnership, known as Hertfordshire Futures, where he co-chairs their Business and Enterprise Panel. Jeremy is also Chairman of the iconic Elstree Film Studios. He chairs a local film and television community interest company that invests in cinema provision and film and TV heritage exhibits..

So how can councils, developers, construction firms, engineers and architects manage design, and tackle long term sustainability?

Image: Grimshaw's exhibit at the Venice Biennale 'Data centres and the city' - courtesy Peter Bennetts

Grimshaw: 'Data centres and the City' at the 19th International Architecture Biennale, Venice

As part of the 19th International Architecture Biennale, Grimshaw showcased an installation: Data Centres and the City: From Problem to Solution on the Path to Sustainable Urbanism. The exhibit, which includes a large-scale model linked to a six-minute animation, explores how data centres and our digital futures should not be ‘hidden’ systems but embedded as civic infrastructure, socially and environmentally integrated into the typology of our cities.

Exhibited in the Arsenale (Entry 187 of the international programme), the installation proposed a radical evolution of the data centre, responding to the Biennale’s theme “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.”

Grimshaw says:

'As artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructures expand at scale, the question of how and where data lives becomes a matter of urgent spatial consequence. These invisible systems demand energy, land, water and connectivity. Their presence reshapes how cities function, what they consume, and whom they serve. This installation responds to this moment by asking a clear, powerful question: What if data infrastructure served not only technology demands, but our communities, places, and futures?

'The installation’s synchronised narrative visualises the embedded flows of energy, water, information, and interaction, positioning the data centre as a regenerative force in urban life, critical systems thinking that connects economic vitality, environmental health, and social systems for net positive impact. While provocative and speculative in tone, the installation is informed by a live Grimshaw-designed project currently in development with global industrial property and digital infrastructure group, Goodman.

'The installation was developed in collaboration with Goodman and supported technically by Arup (Entry 188), whose expertise in sustainable infrastructure and environmental systems helped shape the ambition and viability of the proposal. This triangulation between design, development and systems intelligence reflects the kind of interdependence today’s urban futures demand.

'With a pledged commitment to design and deliver socially and environmentally regenerative buildings and assets by 2030, the Data Centres and the City installation furthers Grimshaw’s sustainability leadership in the industry. It also reflects the practice’s consideration of the civic significance and environmental responsibility of infrastructure: how it belongs, not just performs.'

Image: courtesy Scott Brownrigg

Scott Brownrigg and Pure Data Centres Group / SEGRO

Plans for a next-generation, liquid-cooled hyperscale data centre at Premier Park, West London, have received planning committee approval from the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC). Designed by Scott Brownrigg for a Pure Data Centres Group and SEGRO joint venture, the project repurposes under-utilised industrial land to provide resilient, high-capacity digital infrastructure in response to increasing demand across London and the UK.

The firm states:

'Developed following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, proposals replace a redundant warehouse with an efficient 22,365 sqm data centre, designed to make the most of the industrial land. Proposals also place a strong emphasis on the view of the new facility from the surrounding area with particular attention given to the experience of passing the building for those travelling along the adjacent railway to the north.

'The resulting three-storey development will comprise nine data halls and associated office accommodation, set within a high-quality, pedestrian-friendly environment. Accommodation will be organised in a simple, linear, process-driven arrangement to maximise IT capacity and operational efficiency, supported by plant, storage and a secure entrance pavilion, and powered via a dedicated substation capable of supporting a 72 MW data centre.

'A refined material palette will meet the scheme’s technical requirements while creating a strong visual identity, with variations in texture and form bringing the façade to life through light, shadow and rhythm.

'The development is designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent and an A-rated EPC for the office accommodation, supported by a modular approach that ensures efficiency in construction, operation and maintenance. Integrated measures, including rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels and the potential for heat recovery, will enhance overall building performance, reduce operational costs and support a highly resilient operation.

'Native planting, ecological buffers and sustainable drainage systems will be introduced to enhance biodiversity and promote wildlife movement across and around the site. In addition, attractive outdoor amenity spaces, well-lit routes and high-quality end-of-journey facilities will encourage wellbeing and active travel.

'With construction scheduled to start in 2026, the scheme is set to create a recognisable new landmark development for Park Royal, reinforcing it as a key location for Critical National Infrastructure in the UK.'

Image: CGI of part of Colt Data Centre Services campus at Park Royal, West London - courtesy of Ridge

Ridge and Partners' project management for Colt Data Centres

Colt Data Centre Services is delivering a 50MW, future-ready campus in West London, strengthening the capital’s digital capacity on a complex brownfield site.

Ridge and Partners were appointed as project managers and FIDIC engineer, guiding the campus from early design through to construction. The team validated the brief, supported the appointment of the design team and shaped the programme to keep momentum and clarity. Given the scale and sensitivity of the site, it brought in a planning and PR consultant and supported public exhibitions, planning committees and stakeholder meetings.

The firm says:

'Over two years, we also worked with the local authority on training and employment, securing agreement on the S106 employment plan.

'We led procurement strategy, contract administration and risk and change management, and coordinated the MV substation and contestable works. After planning approval, we delivered RIBA Stages 2 to 4 and deployed a full-time site team to manage construction, supported by clear reporting and regular tenant engagement.

'Despite the programme’s complexity, progress continued from concept to delivery. Shell and core works completed in Q3 2024, with fit out on track for Q3 2025. The site now benefits from steady management, resilient power infrastructure and a collaborative team focused on operational readiness.

'The campus delivers strategically important digital infrastructure. Powered by renewable energy and designed for climate resilience, it shows how careful planning and hands-on delivery can create a next-generation facility on a complex brownfield site. Colt’s 50MW campus boosts London’s digital capacity and provides real operational value from day one.'