CyrusOne has unveiled plans for a £1.2 billion data centre campus in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, pledging a 71% biodiversity net gain and hundreds of skilled jobs.
The 90 MW facility, dubbed LON6, will become the developer’s sixth UK site and one of its largest in Europe. Measuring in at 30,000m², the campus is scheduled to break ground in Q3 2026, with the first power due mid-2027 and initial capacity available in early 2028.
In total, four double-storey and two single-storey data halls will be set into the landscape, topped with green roofs and wrapped in planted walls to soften their visual impact. Something CyrusOne is keen to highlight with its new data centre.
“This development marks an important step in our European growth journey,” said Matt Pullen, EVP and Managing Director, Europe, CyrusOne.
“We’re thrilled to be announcing our plans for this new facility and continuing our growth in London. As demand for digital services continues to accelerate, larger facilities are necessary to provide the economies of scale that customers need, while also ensuring maximum functionality and mitigated risk of downtime. The UK market enables us to respond to these requirements, and we look forward to continuing our expansion and supporting the Government to establish the UK as a centre of excellence in digital services for technology innovation.”
Secretary of State for Science Peter Kyle welcomed the scheme, stressing its role in supporting the UK’s technology ambitions. “This fantastic new facility will help to power many of our online tasks, from navigating with online maps, to messaging and shopping online and we are committed to growing this vital infrastructure and giving the UK the opportunity to thrive in the 21st century,” he said.
“Through our AI Opportunities Action Plan, we promised to transform these digital powerhouses into platforms for progress, creating jobs and unlocking breakthroughs that will benefit people across the country. As a result of this new facility in Buckinghamshire, local people will benefit from the creation of 540 long term new jobs, including roles in engineering, sustainability and security, and over 30 apprenticeship opportunities for young people – turbocharging economic growth in the area and helping us deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Ensuring sustainability in LON6’s design
CyrusOne says LON6 will exceed legal environmental requirements seven-fold, delivering a 71% biodiversity net hain against the 10% set in regulation. The company plans to restore an area of parkland within the Colne Valley Regional Park, planting 670 trees (145 of them fruit varieties) and creating more than 7,000m² of woodland, 90,600m² of meadow and acid grassland, and a publicly accessible biodiverse lake.
Around 72,800m² of the newly created green space will be open to residents, with a cycle path and woodland walks maintained for at least 25 years under a Landscape Ecological Management Plan.
Rooftop solar arrays are expected to supply 64% of the regulated office energy demand, while the wider site will draw 100% certified renewable electricity from the Iver grid supply point. Free-air cooling, rainwater harvesting and EV charging hubs for half the parking spaces are also built into the design.
Skills, training and community dividend
During construction the project will employ an estimated 580 full-time equivalents (FTEs), with a further 540 FTE jobs once operational. A stone gabion-clad training centre, sited outside the secure perimeter for easy public access, will offer specialist courses to employees, local students and apprentices, extending CyrusOne’s partnership with UTC Heathrow.
“We’ve been working hand-in-hand with Apt, Atelier Ten, Cameo Landscape Architects, HDR, Ramboll, Cratus, Montagu Evans and Radcliffes Environmental on the proposals and designs, alongside Longcross Land, who provided investment guidance,” Pullen continued.
“It’s been a fantastic experience collaborating with industry leading firms aligned to our sustainability and community focused vision, and we look forward to seeing the plans come to life. Additionally, we’ve received support from HM Treasury, the UK Department of Business & Trade (DBT), Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and the Office for Investment (OFI) which has been critical in progressing with the project and reaching this important milestone.”
