American data centre company, Vantage, has submitted a full planning application seeking to redevelop the former Ford engine plant in Waterton as a data centre “campus”. Vantage already operates a data centre at Newport.
This is a hybrid application. The developers are seeking full planning permission for the first data centre (pictured) while seeking outline planning permission (requiring further detailed applications in the future) for the rest of the “campus”.
The full masterplan for the site – if approved – would eventually see ten separate two-to-four-storey data centres built over the next 15 years at an expected cost of £5 billion.
The former Ford factory is being demolished and the site remediated, with the developers expecting work to start on the data campus by early 2026 (subject to permission).
A public/pre-application consultation was held.
Most of the concerns/objections were raised by Natural Resources Wales. These relate to protected species recorded nearby including dormice, bats and otters. They also had comments to make about underground storage tanks and pollution prevention.
Bridgend Town Council (Waterton is set to be moved into the town council area as part of a boundary review) was supportive and called for land to be set aside for new allotments – though this was rejected by the developers.
Data centres are energy-intensive. There are proposals for at least part of the electricity supply to be provided by solar panels, while the developers are considering a heat recovery system.
The developers estimate up to 600 operational jobs will be created on-site once the campus is completed. That works out at an average of 60 jobs per building.
However, in the supporting information, the developers say that tech companies often base themselves close to data centres. The growth of the digital sector in Slough was picked out as an example of this.
Most of the expected jobs would be created in construction. The developers expect up to 1,500 construction jobs per year for the duration of the project.
