Equinix will create a 250MW+ data center in Hertfordshire, UK, and has pledged to invest £3.9 billion ($5.2bn) in the project.

The colo giant has purchased an under-construction facility formerly known as DC01UK, situated on an 85-acre site near the M25 motorway at South Mimms.

It has now dubbed the data center, which will span more than two million sq ft (185,806 sqm), its Hertfordshire Campus.

According to Equinix, 100 percent of the power to the facility is covered by renewable energy agreements, while the data center will utilize dry cooling, where the ambient air outside is used as part of the cooling process. This will apparently ensure the campus has water consumption comparable to conventional office block.

Equinix has pledged to retain 54 percent of the land around the data center as open space, and said it will create new ecological habitats which will deliver a biodiversity net gain of at least 10 percent.

James Tyler, UK managing director at Equinix, said: “The UK is a cornerstone of the global economy and is a natural home for our most substantial investment in Europe to date.

“This development brings a significant amount of data center capacity to Britain, contributing to the government’s AI growth ambition. But this investment goes far beyond building the infrastructure needed to unlock the UK’s digital potential. It’s the evolution of an ongoing partnership with the local and national community.”

Plans for DC01UK were first announced in September 2024. At the time, the facility was said to be targeting capacity of 320MW. The scheme was granted planning permission in January. It is hoped it will be up and running by 2029.

James Craig, director of DC01UK, said: “This is a landmark moment for the UK and a powerful example of local entrepreneurship driving national innovation.

“The ambition behind the DC01UK project is extraordinary and we are delighted that the vision for this project will be taken forward by leading experts committed to delivering it to the highest standards, maintaining our ambition, realizing the community benefits, and embedding themselves in the growth and future of Hertfordshire.

“For us, it’s a proud moment that also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we continue to progress other UK data center development opportunities to drive further innovation and investment in this space across the UK.”

The news has been welcomed by the UK government, which has been on a mission to attract more data center operators since taking office in 2024.

UK technology secretary Liz Kendall said: “This £3.9 billion investment is a huge win for Britain. It will give businesses – from life sciences to high street banks – the ability to connect to thousands of other businesses across the world in an instant, powering our AI ambitions, boosting growth, and creating hundreds of well-paid jobs.

“This is about making sure the UK is at the forefront of the digital revolution and ensuring that every community benefits from the opportunities this new technology brings.”

Hertfordshire and neighboring Essex are becoming increasingly popular among data center operations. Google opened a data center in Waltham Cross earlier this year as part of a £5 billion ($6.81bn) investment in the UK, while Microsoft is planning to build a supercomputer that will be hosted at an Nscale data center under construction in Loughton, Essex.