Glenigan figures mark data centre build surge
Glenigan reports that the UK data centre sector is surging as demand rises.
6 August 2025
New analysis from Glenigan reveals a pronounced upturn in UK data centre development, with multiple high‑value projects progressing through planning and pre‑construction phases. The expansion reflects rising demand for AI, cloud computing, and broader digital infrastructure across the economy.
In London, Segro and Pure Data Centres have submitted a pre‑planning proposal for a 60,000 sqm, 56 MW facility worth approximately £1 billion - among the largest single-site plans currently in the pipeline.
In Buckinghamshire’s Iver, Greystoke Land has secured outline approval for the West London Technology Centre, a 72,000 sqm data campus, while a proposed 55,000 sqm Pinewood South Data Centre is being advanced via a pre‑planning application on former studio land.
In Scotland, developer Apatura has pre‑planned a massive 94,000 sqm data campus at the Ravenscraig site in Lanarkshire, valued at £3.9 billion, representing one of the UK’s largest such proposals.
Elsewhere, in Essex, the Wickford AI Data Centre (37,000 sqm, £500 million) is advancing via Caineal LLP’s pre‑application, and in Wiltshire, Ark Data Centres awaits detailed planning for a 27,000 sqm expansion at its Spring Park facility.
In Merseyside, Bootle-based L51 Developments has begun a pre‑application for a 45,000 sqm, 28 MW data centre, signalling growth beyond traditional urban and regional tech hubs.
Glenigan attributes the surge in activity to robust investor confidence in digital infrastructure, driven by AI adoption, cloud computing expansion, and government-backed digital transformation plans. The trend aligns with expectations outlined in the Glenigan Construction Industry Forecast 2025–26, which identified data centres as a key driver of office-sector growth.
The breadth and complexity of upcoming projects - spanning London, the South East, Scotland, the North West, and the South West - present multiple opportunities for main contractors, specialised suppliers, infrastructure planners, and digital engineers. Employment and skills development are expected to benefit accordingly, while former industrial sites like Ravenscraig underline the sector’s role in regional regeneration.
Glenigan’s July 2025 update - authored by Rick Stephens and last updated 28 July 2025 - reports “a strong upward trajectory” in the data centre pipeline, reinforcing expectations that digital infrastructure will be a sustained source of construction-sector growth.With demand rising and multiple projects entering early stages, the outlook for the data centre sector remains notably positive.
For developers, industry professionals, and supply chain partners, the message is clear: as the UK accelerates its digital infrastructure expansion, data centre construction is emerging as a leading opportunity across the country.