DC01UK has confirmed that colocation giant Equinix has acquired an 85-acre green belt site in Hertfordshire. permission was received to refurbish the hyperscale data center campus back in January 2025..
The acquisition represents one of the largest infrastructure and property transactions in the world, according to DC01UK, with Equinix confirming it intends to invest a total of £3.9 billion to build the facility. As such, Equinix has committed to creating a two million square foot data center at the site, which is expected to house at least 250 MW of computing power upon completion.
The site, now renamed the Hertfordshire Campus by Equinix, is expected to directly create 2,500 jobs during the construction phase of the project and over 200 permanent jobs once the construction phase is completed. Equinix currently operates 14 data centers in the UK, employing more than 1,200 people.
Meanwhile, DC01UK is a company formed in July 2022 through a joint venture between renewable energy consultancy Chiltern Green Energy and property developer Griggs Home.
The organization initially applied for planning permission for the site in Hertfordshire in September 2024, and a few days later the project title was checked in government press release on plans to reclassify data centers as critical national infrastructure (CNI).
The accompanying planning documents also make clear that DC01UK's intention was to obtain planning permission to build a hyperscale data center campus on the site and then sell it to an operator to complete the building to its own specifications.
With the Hertfordshire site already sold out, Computer Weekly contacted DC01UK if it has any further projects planned, with a spokesperson for the organization saying there are two projects in the pipeline – codenamed DC02 and DC03.
“The ambitions of the DC01UK project are extraordinary and we are delighted that the vision for this project will be carried out by leading experts who are committed to delivering it to the highest standards, supporting our ambitions, realizing community benefits and contributing to the growth and future of Hertfordshire,” DC01UK director James Craig said in a statement.
“This is a proud moment for us and also marks the start of an exciting new chapter as we continue to develop other data center development opportunities in the UK to drive further innovation and investment in the space across the UK.”
And while the original project received government support, DC01UK faced a fair amount of local resistance to its plans, including more than 900 objections to the planning permission application.
Equinix said it plans to work closely with local residents and businesses to ensure they benefit from their investments in the area, which will include rolling out education, employment and biodiversity programs that it promises will “truly grow the region.”
The company has already said the facility will be powered by renewable energy and will use “dry cooling” techniques to regulate the temperature of internal equipment while ensuring it uses the same amount of water as conventional office buildings.
In addition, Equinix has committed to ensuring that its development will result in the conservation of 54% of the site's open space, as well as the creation of ecological habitats that will deliver a promised net gain in biodiversity of at least 10%.
James Tyler, managing director of Equinix UK, said the project represents the company's largest investment in Europe to date and is a big win for both the national and local economy.
“This development will bring significant data center capacity to the UK, furthering the government's ambitions to develop artificial intelligence,” Tyler said. “But this investment goes far beyond building the infrastructure needed to unlock the UK's digital potential. It is about developing ongoing partnerships with local and national communities.”
Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the creation of the Equinix data center campus would boost UK businesses across a wide range of industries, from life sciences to financial services.
“This £3.9 billion investment is a huge win for Britain. It will give businesses… the ability to instantly connect with thousands of other businesses around the world, fueling our AI ambitions, accelerating growth and creating hundreds of good-paying jobs. It's about ensuring the UK is at the forefront of the digital revolution and ensuring every community benefits from the opportunities this new technology brings.”
