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£200m Data Centre Planned for Former Microsoft Site
6 Oct
Summary
- A £200m data centre proposal requires demolishing three office buildings.
- The facility could generate its own power using natural gas.
- Heat from the data centre may supply a future district heating network.
A proposal for a £200 million data centre has been submitted for review, potentially transforming Microsoft's former UK headquarters site in Earley. The development plans involve demolishing three office buildings at Thames Valley Park to construct the new facility.
The main buildings of the proposed data centre would reach approximately 30.5m (100ft) in height. Submitted to Wokingham Borough Council by property owner Mapeley, a planning decision is anticipated by March. The scheme includes on-site power generation and backup generators.
While the completed data centre could demand up to 110MW of electricity, only 1.8MW of National Grid capacity is currently available. Developers propose using natural gas for on-site power generation during network upgrades. This facility could also supply heat to a future district heating network in Reading, potentially serving the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the University of Reading, and local schools. Once operational, it is projected to create up to 65 jobs.
