The massive gigawatt-scale PW Digital Gateway project in Virginia is no more, with QTS finally backing down from its ongoing legal fight to get the development through planning.

QTS this week announced it has terminated its planned Digital Gateway ​data center project in Virginia's Prince William County and withdrawn ‌the associated filings. The company has dropped its appeal with the Virginia Supreme Court to try and push the project through.

“After careful consideration, QTS has made the decision to terminate the Digital Gateway project and withdraw its associated filings,” QTS said in court documents.

The news sees the end of a planned data center project that has been years in the making, with opposition from local residents creating headlines in national news.

“This is a banner day for the historic preservation community. Our decision to fight an enormous and inappropriate data center project threatening one of America’s most hallowed historic places has been completely vindicated,” said American Battlefield Trust president, David Duncan. “I am grateful for the stalwart determination of all who stood with us to ensure these deep-pocketed data center developers did not succeed with their plans to construct dozens of data centers next to a beloved national park and historic treasure.”

“The unwavering commitment of this really special community to keep fighting with so much not in our favor is a testament to the tenacity and relentless spirit of the people in Prince William County,” added Elena Schlossberg of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.

QTS and Compass had filed to develop thousands of acres of greenfield land in Manassas for a massive data center development totaling dozens of buildings.

After initially being granted planning approval, the project was stripped of its zoning authorization over a technicality in how notice about the plans were publicized.

QTS, Compass, and Prince William County officials initially tied to appeal, but lost in two Virginia courts. Compass and the county had already publicly conceded defeat and backed off the project, but QTS was set to take the matter to the Virginia Supreme Court until this week’s concession.

The battle for Pageland is over

QTS and Compass were originally given the green light for the 2,100-acre, multi-gigawatt development in December 2023 after a marathon 27-hour public meeting.

QTS was aiming to develop around 11.3 million gross square feet (1.05 million sqm) of data center space along Pageland Lane in Manassas. Compass hoped to develop up to 11.55 million sq ft (1.07 million sqm) of data center space. The project, one of the first proposed gigawatt-scale campuses, would have totaled some 37 buildings at full build-out.

DCD visited the site back in 2022 ahead of the final vote and has spoken to both proponents and the opposing coalition about the large-scale project.

The development had been mired in controversy throughout its planning; residents who weren’t willing to sell decried the potential impact on the rural area, its proximity to a Civil War-era battlefield, and the potential environmental impacts of such a large development. Multiple lawsuits had been filed against the project, and the coalition hosted an unanswered protest outside QTS’ existing Manassas data center.

The largely rural area was already known as a battleground for development, with local residents previously fighting to prevent a motocross speedway racetrack, an amusement park, a large retail mall, and a proposed Disney theme park from being built along Pageland.