£1.3bn AI data centre in Essex approved to anchor UK’s digital ambitions
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Plans for a £1.3 billion artificial intelligence data centre in Essex have been approved, clearing the way for one of the largest digital infrastructure projects in the southeast. The Wickford-based scheme, led by developer Caineal, will be constructed over seven years and is designed to support growing demand for high-performance computing facilities in the UK.
The complex will be situated next to the A127 and Old Nevendon Road on a site that merges industrial functionality with environmental preservation. The phased development includes £500 million allocated for the main structural build and another £500 million for hardware and systems integration. Outline planning was granted last week, with construction expected to begin following clearance of final planning conditions.
The proposal includes 27,000 square metres of data halls and office space across multiple levels. The facility will house two levels of IT infrastructure topped by three floors of offices. A dedicated 4,500 square metre substation will also be constructed and fed by underground power lines. According to the developers, this setup will ensure secure energy delivery to a power-intensive operation, essential for supporting AI applications at scale.
A scaled blueprint for AI infrastructure
The Wickford development marks a shift in how regional sites are being positioned to support the UK’s ambitions in artificial intelligence. Councillor Jessica Power, Basildon’s cabinet member for jobs and skills, said the project would place the district at the centre of Britain’s digital future.
The project is expected to support the equivalent of 600 full-time construction jobs annually throughout its delivery. Beyond the immediate economic stimulus, planners see the site as a long-term asset in the national AI ecosystem. With increasing demand for data centre capacity driven by machine learning, cloud computing and edge AI, developers and local authorities are moving quickly to establish next-generation facilities.
The design team includes Arc MC Architects and CPA Consulting Engineers. Both have worked on similar large-scale industrial and tech-focused projects and will be responsible for delivering the multi-level structure with a focus on efficient energy and spatial layout. The project’s use of underground cabling, reinforced cooling systems and a high-resilience substation signals the scale and technical specificity required in modern AI builds.
Balancing environmental impact and growth
Amid concerns about the environmental footprint of large data facilities, Caineal has proposed a series of mitigation strategies. A closed-loop water cooling system will be used to minimise waste, reducing the need for water-intensive processes that have historically drawn criticism in older data centres.
In addition to resource efficiency, the development includes plans for a 34.5-acre nature reserve to extend the nearby Nevendon Wetlands. This green buffer aims to preserve the gap between Basildon and Wickford and to support biodiversity across the site. Local planning officials have positioned this element as key to ensuring public support for a project that otherwise requires significant land use transformation.
Community response has so far remained measured. While traffic and infrastructure impact will be closely monitored, the promise of skilled jobs and green development credentials has given the project momentum. Political backing from Basildon Council signals alignment across multiple local authorities that are increasingly eager to host digital infrastructure assets.
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