A 17,200 sqm (185,150 sq ft) data center is being proposed in northeast London.
First reported by EssexLive, Alandale Scaffolding has filed for permission with Epping Forest District Council to develop a new facility in Loughton, close to Debden station.
The firm aims to develop a three-story, 17,200 sqm facility on Langston Road. The application notes the development will include a data center with IT support facilities, rooftop plant with screened enclosure and an electrical substation, and an office facility in the building.
The building’s power capacity was not included. No end-user was named.
“The application site at Langston Road was originally identified as a unique location due to its power, fiber, and security attributes,” according to the application. “Over the years, infrastructure in this location has continued to be reinforced, offering greater capacities. This site is therefore very attractive to potentially accommodate larger hyperscale data center operators (such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple).”
The site, located close to the Bank of England’s printing plant, is currently a scaffolding yard on an industrial estate. It has seemingly been earmarked for data centers for more than a decade.
The site was previously granted permission for a 13,000 sqm (140,000 sq ft) data center in 2013 and then again in 2019. Two data centers were proposed in 2007 on the ‘Former Bank Of England Sports Ground’ that is likely the same site on Langston Road; planning permission expired in 2011.
The new application notes the previous data center development consent has now lapsed, noting this was due to the “ever-changing and developing technology requirements for a data center.”
“This constraint has largely been resolved and this revised application reflects a long-term vision of contemporary requirements,” according to the new application.
While the Loughton area of London isn’t a data center hub, it is relatively close to the Docklands area in east London, and a number of facilities have been previously proposed nearby to the latest application.
A property known as the ‘T11 Site’ on Langston Road sought data center planning around 2008. A number of retail buildings were proposed on the site in 2016.
Goldstone House, a property on the same street currently operating as Wickes store selling building materials, was in 2008 granted permission for an internal refit works and change of use to data center. It is still a Wickes store today.