The contractor and MEP specialist Phoenix ME have been awarded a pre-construction services agreement for the 14-acre Court Lane site adjacent to the M25, marking the start of a major hyperscale data centre development.
The project will transform an ageing industrial estate into a large-scale digital infrastructure campus, strengthening West London’s position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing data centre hubs.
Initial works are scheduled to begin on 1 July and will include site clearance, utility diversions and extensive remediation activities ahead of the main construction phase.
Once complete, the scheme will comprise two hyperscale data centre buildings alongside a dedicated 140MVA electrical substation, providing the substantial power capacity required to support next-generation cloud computing and AI workloads.
The wider project team includes Gensler as lead architect, Cundall as MEP designer and L&P Group providing engineering support services.
A key element of the enabling works will involve relocating two 36-inch Affinity Water mains that currently cross the site. Following these diversions, a comprehensive remediation programme will be implemented to prepare the land for full-scale construction.
The development represents another significant investment in the rapidly expanding UK data centre sector as demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence infrastructure and high-performance computing continues to accelerate.
Julian Michalski, head of development for Corscale Europe, said: “This is by design an exceptional collaboration of a tier one team.
“It brings a combination of expertise and experience – each with a strong track record in complex, mission-critical environments – to deliver superior quality, programme certainty and technical assurance at every stage, ensuring we meet programme deadlines and our practical completion date in late 2029.”
McLaren’s Managing Director for Data Centres, David McDonnell, said the Court Lane project will require the latest construction technologies and advanced delivery techniques to meet the increasingly complex demands of hyperscale data centre operators. He noted that modern facilities require higher levels of power capacity, technical integration and construction precision to support the rapid growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services.
The 14-acre Court Lane site, currently occupied by a mix of industrial operations including recycling facilities, waste transfer stations, concrete and aggregate storage yards, vehicle compounds and distribution businesses, will be transformed into a major hyperscale data centre campus. The development is set to strengthen West London’s growing position as a key hub for digital infrastructure and high-performance computing.