Amazon Eyes Buckinghamshire for Massive New Data Centre

Amazon Web Services has submitted plans to construct a substantial 330,000 sq ft data centre in Iver, Buckinghamshire. This development is part of the tech giant’s significant investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure and positions Iver as a growing hub for the data centre sector.

Key Takeaways

Amazon plans a 330,000 sq ft, two-storey data centre in Iver, Buckinghamshire.
The project is part of an £8 billion UK data centre expansion by Amazon through 2028.
Construction is estimated to take 24-36 months, creating hundreds of jobs.
The facility will be designed for energy efficiency and align with Amazon’s net-zero carbon targets.

Proposed Development Details

The proposed facility, located at the Ridgeway Distribution Centre, involves the demolition of all existing structures to make way for a high-security, two-storey data centre. The design features twin stacked data halls, each 8.5 metres high, engineered for optimal energy efficiency and airflow. A lower-profile administration block will front the main entrance, while the northern side will house a generator yard with 27 backup units and 24-metre high exhaust stacks. The site will also include a substation compound, switchrooms, a medium-voltage building, sprinkler pump house, water tanks, diesel storage, and a bin store, all secured by 2.4-metre high fencing.

Economic Impact and Investment

This project is a component of Amazon’s broader £8 billion investment in UK data centres, scheduled to run until 2028. The company forecasts this expansion will contribute £14 billion to the UK’s GDP and generate over 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually across its supply chain. The construction phase alone is expected to create approximately 350 direct site jobs, with an additional 1,000 roles supported through the local supply chain over a 24 to 36-month construction period.

Sustainability and Design

Amazon has stated that the new data centre will align with its global net-zero carbon target for 2040. Furthermore, the company confirmed that all electricity used in its UK data centres has been matched with 100% renewable energy since 2023. The design team includes Dublin-based MCA Architects, civil and structural engineer Cronin & Sutton Consulting, M&E engineer Ethos, and high voltage consultant H&MV Engineering.

Broader Sector Growth

The development in Iver is indicative of a wider trend in the UK data centre market. This submission coincides with other significant deals in the sector, such as the sale of a South Mimms data centre site in Hertfordshire to Equinix, which is set to become one of Europe’s largest data centre developments.