Google is exploring the development of a data center campus in Goochland County, Virginia.

As per an unsealed NDA and as reported by WRIC, the cloud and search giant is considering developing a 1.2GW data center on an approximately 1,000-acre site at the West Creek Business Park near West End.

The property is located off Route 6 and Hockett Road.

Hard plans are yet to be made, with Google still evaluating the site and conducting due diligence.

Clay Allsop, a Google regional public affairs manager, said: "Google has more than 20 years of experience responsibly building data centers, and we are optimistic about the opportunity in Goochland County. As we continue our due diligence on the West Creek site, we are committed to working transparently with residents and local government leaders every step of the way.”

Goochland's Board of Supervisors previously approved a Technology Overlay District and Technology Zone aiming to attract investment from businesses and increase its tax revenue.

The potential for a large Google data center has been met with concern from local residents, including Goochland resident Cynthia Haas, who said: "Everything from the noise, to the pollution, to the lights at night: all of these things are going to happen to Goochland is going to dramatically change the way this county looks."

Nearby, Tract is also looking to develop a property at the Tuckahoe Technology Park, which would be an 872-acre campus.

Tract is hoping to develop on land at 44 Cobblestone Circle and 70 Fleetwood Lane, bounded to the west by Hockett Road, to the east by Route 288, and to the south by Patterson Avenue. Site plans suggest 12 buildings could be developed on the campus. The multi-phase campus could total 900MW at full build-out. More than $3 billion could be invested.

Goochland County is located to the west of Richmond. The city of Goochland is the county seat. Both the city and the county are named after Sir William Gooch, a British army officer and governor of Virginia between 1727 and 1749.