Equinix to build £3.9bn Hertfordshire data centre
Equinix plans to invest £3.9 billion in the project, which will deliver 250+MW of compute
Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company®, has completed its acquisition of an 85-acre plot permitted for data centre development in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Equinix plans to invest £3.9 billion in the project, which will deliver 250+MW of compute capacity to the UK’s critical national infrastructure. Once fully built out, it will deliver world-class digital infrastructure and skills in the UK, supporting local, national and international businesses from sectors including healthcare, life sciences, public sector, financial services, manufacturing and entertainment. The new facility is a clear sign of commitment to the UK’s ambition to lead in sovereign AI.
Construction of the site, which until now has been known as DC01UK, is expected to directly generate 2,500 local jobs and once fully operational, over 200 permanent roles – the majority of which will be highly skilled. KPMG estimates that direct and indirect employment could contribute roughly £120 million in wages.
KPMG also estimates that the Hertfordshire Campus could support the UK economy with up to £3 billion in annual Gross Value Added (GVA) during the construction phase, and up to £260 million in annual GVA once operational. This reflects the wide-ranging impact of construction activity, supply chain and employee wage spending. As well as delivering for customers and driving national economic impact, Equinix aims to set a notably high standard for partnering with the community at the Hertfordshire Campus. This will include close collaboration with local residents and businesses to invest in education, employment and biodiversity programs that are truly additive to the region.
Equinix has an established track record of underpinning economic and social progress in the countries it operates. With over 270 data centres across six continents, 36 countries and 77 metro areas, Equinix has a 27-year history of building digital infrastructure. In the UK, Equinix supports over 1,300 customers, many of which are headquartered in the country. Through the development of the Hertfordshire Campus, Equinix will connect businesses of all sizes to global, AI-ready infrastructure that is secure and scalable.
Equinix facilities in Europe, including the UK, are covered by 100% renewable energy and the company has committed to achieving a target for all facilities globally to be covered by 100% renewable energy by 2030. At the Hertfordshire Campus plans include:
Dry cooling, which will ensure water consumption at the site will be comparable with conventional office buildings
Retaining 54% of the land as open space
A commitment to create new ecological habitats which will deliver a biodiversity net gain of at least 10%
“The UK is a cornerstone of the global economy and is a natural home for our most substantial investment in Europe to date. This development brings a significant amount of data centre capacity to Britain, contributing to the government’s AI growth ambition. But this investment goes far beyond building the infrastructure needed to unlock the UK’s digital potential. It’s the evolution of an ongoing partnership with the local and national community,” said James Tyler, UK Managing Director, Equinix.
“This £3.9 billion investment is a huge win for Britain. It will give businesses – from life sciences to high street banks – the ability to connect to thousands of other businesses across the world in an instant, powering our AI ambitions, boosting growth and creating hundreds of well-paid jobs. This is about making sure the UK is at the forefront of the digital revolution and ensuring that every community benefits from the opportunities this new technology brings,” said Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“This announcement reflects the scale of opportunity the UK has to strengthen its digital foundations. As highlighted in our Foundations for the Future report, data centres are the backbone of our economy – they enable innovation, productivity and growth across every sector. Continued investment in sustainable, resilient digital infrastructure will be critical to delivering on the UK’s ambitions for AI and long-term economic prosperity,” said Luisa Cardani, Head of Data Centres, techUK.
This announcement builds on Equinix’s established UK footprint, and existing investment which includes:
14 data centres located in the UK. Across these facilities, a large portion of the customer base is UK-based businesses. Equinix supports over 10,000 different customers globally
Over 1,200 UK-based employees, contributing £145 million directly to household income in the UK
All sites designed for heat to be exported, enabling future conservation of energy which also benefits local communities
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