Legal & General, Goldacre and sineQN have secured planning consent for a £750m sustainable, urban hyperscale data centre in the London Borough of Newham.
The development, which is expected to contribute £88m to Newham’s GVA, will offer 80 megawatts of IT power by early 2027 and has the flexibility to deliver all workloads, including AI, in a secure location just over 500m from the London Internet Exchange (LINX).
The data centre also has the potential to be a heat source for thousands of homes in Newham.
Matteo Colombo, managing director of digital infrastructure, asset management at Legal & General, said: “Legal & General is committed to delivering critical infrastructure for today and tomorrow’s society, and through strategic partnerships, we are actively identifying opportunities in this sector that are critical to economic functioning and productivity growth.
“We have positive legacy in Newham through existing developments which has delivered homes, office space, and public realm, producing valuable benefits in terms of jobs and training opportunities for the community, along with bringing further investment into the local economy. This data centre signals our continued support for the borough through the provision of catalytic capital to develop vital assets and boost productivity in this vibrant part of London.”
David Bloom, founder and CEO of specialist digital infrastructure investment firm Goldacre, added: “The planning approval marks a significant milestone, not only for Newham but for London’s broader digital infrastructure. As demand for data capacity continues to grow exponentially, this development reinforces the capital’s position as a global hub for innovation and technology. At Goldacre, we are committed to advancing the future of digital infrastructure, and this project exemplifies our dedication to innovative and forward-thinking solutions that meet the evolving needs of the digital economy.
“It has been over a decade since we invested in our first data centre, and we have gone on to make a number of successful investments in this space, with Newham as the latest addition. Both the sector and the processes involved have experienced a coming of age, there could not be a better time to invest in data centres.”
Gavan Mackenzie, CEO of data centre developer sineQN, said: “As the creator of this scheme, sineQN is delighted with the approval. An innovator in the data centre sector, we are excited to be delivering a next generation, sustainable hyperscale project. We are committed to powering up the economy through digital and physical infrastructure with an approach to working alongside and contributing positively to the communities we operate in, and we believe this data centre will do that. We look forward to continuing our work with Newham and the community as we embark upon this new chapter together.”
