Demand for digital infrastructure continues to increase as our economy, businesses, public services, medical innovations and our day-to-day lives rely more on data driven technologies. The expansion of cloud computing, online services, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies is expected to accelerate this trend significantly in the coming years.

 

Modern data centres play a critical role in supporting the UK’s digital economy by providing the secure storage, processing and connectivity required for a wide range of sectors. Continued investment in this infrastructure is essential if the UK is to maintain its global competitiveness, encourage innovation and support future economic growth.

 

The proposed site is located within the Hayes Availability Zone. The Hayes Availability Zone forms part of the Slough–Hayes data centre cluster, one of the world’s most strategically important data centre locations. Its proximity to existing digital infrastructure and network connectivity provides the resilience, reliability and operational performance required by modern data centre facilities.

 

Recent Planning Appeal Decisions have demonstrated that there is an urgent unmet growing need for new data centres and a lack of viable alternative locations suitable to meet this demand.

 

The proposed data centre will contribute to meeting this growing need and will ensure that the Hillingdon Borough Council region benefits from the significant investment, job creation, economic diversification and other opportunities associated with data centre development.

 

The Hayes Availability Zone allows low-latency access for research institutions, life sciences organisations, universities and healthcare providers, supporting the secure exchange and analysis of large datasets and real time analytics. Some of the worlds leading companies in those sectors have premises in Stockley Park and Hayes including the NHS, Apple, GSK and Gilead Sciences to name just a few.

 

The development site is located in a position which is a significant distance from local residents on land which has been left vacant since the development of the A437 Dawley Road.