Colt DCS has secured approval to expand its Hayes Digital Park data center campus in West London as part of a £2.5 billion investment.
The company says it plans to build three new hyperscale data centers and an innovation hub in partnership with Brunel University as part of the expansion scheme.
These new data centers, dubbed London 6, 7, and 8, will be powered using 100% renewable energy, according to Colt.
Power contracts for the development have been secured with the National Grid and are expected to provide an additional 97MW in power to the broader site, bringing total capacity to 160MW.
Xavier Matagne, Chief Real Estate Officer at Colt DCS, said the move marks “another important milestone” for the company’s expansion and broader UK digital economy.
“Data centers are a cornerstone of digital transformation,” Matagne said. “With this expansion, we can help power innovation, support the AI revolution, and contribute to the energy transition.”
Colt DCS eyes 2029 launch date
Colt said construction is expected to start mid-2026, with the first of three new data centers, London 6, scheduled to go live in early 2029.
Upon opening, Colt said the new facilities are projected to create over 500 permanent jobs, with the company planning to train more than 50 technical apprentices over a ten-year period.
Elsewhere, AECOM will lead development of the design proposals for the planned Innovation Hub. The hub will be used as a “base for innovation and community engagement”, according to Colt, hosting events for the local community.
“Our new campus in Hayes, including the Innovation Hub in partnership with Brunel University, will drive community value, from reusing heat for district heating to creating jobs, skills, and long-term investment,” Matagne commented.
“As one of the few operators capable of delivering new capacity in this area of London over the next decade, we’re proud to be helping power the UK’s future economy in a sustainable and inclusive way,”
Councilor Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for planning, housing, and growth, welcomed innovation hub plans, describing the move as an “exciting new development that will help foster economic growth” in the local community.
“It will equip residents and smaller local businesses with the right skills, affordable workspaces, and opportunities to thrive,” he said.
Make sure to follow ITPro on Google News to keep tabs on all our latest news, analysis, and reviews.
MORE FROM ITPRO
-
How Oracle plans to dominate in enterprise AIInterview Oracle is leaning on its extensive industry ties to offer customers a more open ecosystem
-
Enterprises need to acknowledge the importance of basic cyber hygieneNews Most security incidents are preventable, yet leaders aren’t taking proactive steps to mitigate risk
-
Majority of English data centers use less water than a 'typical leisure center' as operators embrace new cooling methodsNews England’s data centers are surprisingly efficient when it comes to water consumption
-
Stargate project: OpenAI, Oracle pledge support for $500 billion AI infrastructure driveNews US President Donald Trump has unveiled the launch of the $500 billion Stargate Project to expand US AI infrastructure in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank.
-
Data centers are growing in size and number as AI prompts widespread global expansionAnalysis Generative AI continues to push up demand for more sites and increased capacity at physical locations
-
CoreWeave’s first two UK data centers are now operationalNews The company's European plans for this year also include new facilities in Norway, Sweden, and Spain
-
Data centers will be critical to UK economic growth in the coming decade – but researchers have warned of a ‘data doomsday’ unless energy infrastructure is improvedNews With TechUK calling for improved grid connections and easier access to renewable energy, a new study warns that the world's entire electricity supply may not be enough
-
The AI disruption: Challenges and guidance for data center designWhitepaper Energy Management Research Center
