A £1.3 billion ($1.7bn) data center project in Essex, UK, has been given the green light.

Developer Caineal has been granted planning permission to build at the data center on 1.8 hectares of land adjacent to the A127 and Old Nevendon Road in Wickford, near Basildon.

Members of Basildon Council’s planning committee approved a planning application for the project at a meeting on Thursday.

Details of the data center’s capacity and how it will be powered have yet to be disclosed.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our borough,” said Jessica Power, cabinet member for jobs and skills at Basildon Council. “It places Basildon at the heart of the UK’s AI revolution and will act as a magnet for high-value, technology-led businesses, driving skills development and creating long-term employment opportunities.”

The project will create 120 jobs and support up to 600 construction roles during the build-out. Construction will get underway “once final planning formalities are completed,” according to a statement from Basildon Council.

John Bourne, spokesperson for Caineal, said: “This is a chance for the area to become a powerhouse in the AI data economy. We’re proud to be investing in Basildon and helping to position it as a centre of technological excellence.”

Plans for the data center were initially submitted in December 2023, but in January 2025, a planning application was made for a scaled-back version of the project.

This followed local concerns about the impact of the development on greenbelt land. Caineal has said it will create a nature reserve on adjacent land as part of the project.