Go ahead given for 96MW data centre near London

Abbots Langley Data Centre, a proposed 96MW data centre next to the M25 London orbital motorway in Hertfordshire, has been granted planning permission by the secretary of state.

The new data centre will strongly support UK economic growth and help to maintain Britain’s leadership in digital industries.

It will help to meet a pressing need for more data centre capacity close to London, and around the Hemel Hempstead Availability Zone specifically.

Abbots Langley Data Center will unlock an estimated £1 billion of foreign direct investment and bring hundreds of well-paid local jobs with average salaries of between £46,000 and £54,000.

It will support thousands of jobs across the country by storing and processing data for business.

£12 million will be set aside for the education and training of local people, helping them build skills for jobs at the data centre and in related industries. An education and training centre will be on site.

A new landscaped country park will be created, the size of 25 football pitches. Fully accessible to everyone and their dogs, the country park will be on land which is currently private. Biodiversity will more than double.