Colt Data Centre Services has planning consent to expand Hayes Digital Park in west London with three hyperscale data centres and an Innovation Hub, a £2.5 billion project that will add 97 MW to reach 160 MW total capacity and create over 500 permanent jobs, with construction starting mid-2026 and the first data centre (London 6) slated to go live in early 2029.

The expansion, approved for facilities London 6, 7, and 8, will begin construction in mid-2026, with the first facility going live in early 2029, and the project includes plans to train more than 50 technical apprentices during a decade-long build programme.

Colt executives say the data centres will power innovation and support the AI revolution while aiding the energy transition, including a district heating network to channel waste heat to local businesses and homes, though experts remain cautious about waste-heat reuse at scale.

The Innovation Hub, developed with AECOM, will foster collaboration, research, and skills development, host community spaces and events on culture and creativity, and operate as a base for flexible space for future industrial use.

The project sits within a broader, competitive UK datacentre landscape, alongside Google’s and Equinix’s developments and ongoing regulatory considerations around green belt land and local council decisions.

Overall, the Hayes expansion is part of a strategic push to grow centralized, large-scale data infrastructure to meet rising demand from the City and AI-driven workloads, with distinct sites, capacities, and timelines.

All three new data centres will run on 100% renewable energy under a Power Purchase Agreement, with backup generators limited to 15 hours per year and a grid connection planned for October 2027.

Colt’s leadership frames the project as advancing sustainable, inclusive growth, while a Hillingdon Council spokesperson highlights the Innovation Hub’s role in driving economic growth, skills development, and affordable workspace for residents and small businesses.

The Hayes expansion reinforces the UK’s digital and AI economy, supporting the government’s industrial strategy and strengthening London’s role as a hub for critical digital infrastructure.

Collectively, the initiatives reflect a coordinated effort to expand hyperscale capacity around London to support AI workloads and digital infrastructure for major tech players and the wider economy.

A district heating network will use waste heat from the data centres to support local businesses and residences, with grid-powered operation and a high-voltage connection planned by 2027.

In sum, Hayes Digital Park’s expansion, with its Innovation Hub and sustainability measures, epitomizes a strategic investment in the UK’s data infrastructure to power innovation and economic growth.