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Plans submitted for £200m data centre at Microsoft's former UK headquarters in Reading
Overview
Property owner Mapeley has submitted plans to Wokingham Borough Council for a £200m data centre on the site of Microsoft's former UK headquarters at Thames Valley Park in Earley. The scheme involves demolishing three office buildings to construct a facility featuring main buildings up to 30.5m high, on-site power generation, backup generators, and office space. While the development has drawn mixed public reactions regarding environmental impacts, developers claim it will create 65 jobs, reduce daily vehicle movements, and potentially supply heat to local destinations.
Key points
- Plans have been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council for a £200m data centre at Thames Valley Park in Earley.
- The project involves demolishing three office buildings formerly used as Microsoft's UK headquarters.
- The facility could require up to 110MW of electricity, with developers proposing on-site natural gas power generation while awaiting grid upgrades.
- Developers suggest the data centre's generated heat could supply a future district heating network for local institutions like the University of Reading and Royal Berkshire Hospital.
- The application has sparked mixed public responses, with concerns raised over noise, heat, emissions, and proximity to a nature reserve.
- A biodiversity assessment claims the development will deliver a biodiversity net gain of over 22%.
- Microsoft is scheduled to move into another local building in Thames Valley Park by the end of 2027.