The proposals are for two data centre buildings and ancillary infrastructure with approximately 50,000 square metres of floorspace in total. The site would also include an electricity substation, a gatehouse, parking, service areas and the plant needed to operate the buildings.

More than 50% of the site would remain green, with 640 new trees planted. In addition to this new woodland and tree planting, there would be wetland and grassland habitats, landscaped drainage features, wildlife corridors and landscaped earth banks to screen the buildings. About one-third of the green space (2 hectares or almost 5 acres) would be open to the public and benefit from new footpaths.

The buildings are being designed with a closed-loop cooling system, which recirculates the same water rather than continually drawing fresh water from the mains. We are also exploring whether surplus heat from the buildings could be reused, for example to heat nearby buildings. The data centre would be powered from the national electricity grid through a new connection and its own substation, and would not use on-site power generation for its day-to-day operation. Like all data centres, it would have emergency back-up generators. These would only be used if the grid supply failed, and for short routine tests.

The main entrance would be from The Ridgeway at the eastern end of the site, with a gatehouse where all vehicles would be checked. A second entrance at the western end of the site would be used by emergency vehicles. Construction traffic would be carefully managed, with agreed routes and timings, including avoiding school drop-off and pick-up times.