Legal & General (L&G), specialist digital infrastructure investment firm, Goldacre, and data centre development partner, sineQN, have announced planning has been approved for a £750m sustainable, urban hyperscale data centre investment located in the London Borough of Newham.
The development is expected to contribute £88 million to Newham’s GVA (gross value added), creating over a thousand skilled jobs during the construction and operation phases. It is also targeted to attract 500 high-growth data businesses to the Borough.
The consortium brings digital infrastructure experience and expertise to this new and independent project.
The data centre represents a significant investment and contribution to further regeneration in Newham, where L&G has already provided over £550 million to the development of high-quality and multi-sectoral regeneration projects, delivering housing and public realm as well as economic benefits such as job creation. This includes 14 Westfield Avenue, with office space let to HMRC; 5 Endeavour Square, home to TfL’s headquarters; and a student accommodation scheme let to Queen Mary University, London.
In addition, L&G has been involved in affordable housing projects such as Manor Road Quarter through its joint venture with ECF, and a Build-to-Rent development in partnership with Telford Homes.
Driven by increased demand from the digitalisation of society, including cloud migration and AI, growth in data storage and processing continues to accelerate. This partnership supports the growth in data capacity in Europe’s largest and tightest market, whilst delivering critical infrastructure that is both commercially attractive and addresses social and environmental needs.
The proposed development will deliver 80MW of IT power by early 2027 and has the flexibility to deliver all workloads including AI, in a secure, sustainable location just over 500 metres from the London Internet Exchange (LINX).
The data centre could be a heat source for thousands of Newham homes and will aim to help the council fulfil its net zero ambitions. The scheme will also provide significant environmental and public realm improvements along Bidder Street and connecting walkways along the Lower Lea Valley, from Canning Town to Stratford.
Central to the development is the alignment with Newham Council’s plan for the borough to become London’s destination for businesses, innovators and investors in the data sector. Planning approval follows a substantial consultation period, having engaged with residents and key stakeholders including Newham Council officers and members.
“Legal & General is committed to delivering critical infrastructure for today and tomorrow’s society, and through strategic partnerships, we are actively identifying opportunities in this sector that are critical to economic functioning and productivity growth,” said Matteo Colombo, Managing Director of Digital Infrastructure, Asset Management, Legal & General.
“We have a positive legacy in Newham through existing developments which have delivered homes, office space and public realm, producing valuable benefits in terms of jobs and training opportunities for the community, along with bringing further investment into the local economy. This data centre signals our continued support for the borough through the provision of catalytic capital to develop vital assets and boost productivity in this vibrant part of London,” added Colombo.
David Bloom, Founder and CEO, Goldacre, said: “The planning approval marks a significant milestone, not only for Newham, but for London’s broader digital infrastructure. As demand for data capacity continues to grow exponentially, this development reinforces the capital’s position as a global hub for innovation and technology. At Goldacre, we are committed to advancing the future of digital infrastructure, and this project exemplifies our dedication to innovative and forward-thinking solutions that meet the evolving needs of the digital economy.
“It has been over a decade since we invested in our first data centre, and we have gone on to make a number of successful investments in this space, with Newham as the latest addition. Both the sector and the processes involved have experienced a coming of age, there could not be a better time to invest in data centres,” Bloom added.
Gavan Mackenzie, CEO, sineQN, said: “As the creator of this scheme, sineQN is delighted with the approval. An innovator in the data centre sector, we are excited to be delivering a next-generation, sustainable hyperscale project. We are committed to powering up the economy through digital and physical infrastructure with an approach to working alongside and contributing positively to the communities we operate in, and we believe this data centre will do that. We look forward to continuing our work with Newham and the community as we embark upon this new chapter together.”
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