Industrial developer Panattoni has been given the go-ahead to turn a former Sainsbury’s frozen food distribution depot in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, into a 592,000 sq ft data centre site.
Hertsmere Borough Council members unanimously approved the scheme at a planning committee meeting last night (17 June).
Councillor Glenn Briski said the proposals represented “the kinds of industries we need to build around here” and that the addition of more high-tech jobs would be “very welcome” in the area.
Data centre designer and developer Pure DC will occupy the 5.5ha site, which is next to the new Sky film studios. It will have a staff of 117.
The site will offer around 449,500 sq ft of internal floor space and a maximum height of 18m.
Plans for the three-story data centre were submitted in October last year, but a decision was deferred after the council noted discrepancies with the predicted number of staff on the site. The developer revised its drawings and supporting documents in the following weeks.
Panattoni acquired the depot in 2018 to speculatively develop a number of industrial and logistics facilities ranging from 35,000 sq ft to 130,000 sq ft.
Two newly built adjoining warehouses, collectively measuring 154,000 sq ft, will be demolished as part of the redevelopment.
Panattoni has pledged to reuse or recycle more than 99% of materials from those buildings.
While a further facility will not proceed with a pending planning application, the site will retain a 36,000 sq ft building let to UK Power Networks.
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