Plans are underway for a significant data centre development in Hertfordshire.
- DC01UK, a venture led by Griggs, is searching for a major US tech partner.
- The project aims to secure funding from leading tech giants such as Google, Amazon, or Microsoft.
- An innovation hub is planned for local community use in South Mimms.
- The UK government supports the initiative, reflecting confidence in data centre growth.
DC01UK, a joint venture involving Griggs, is in pursuit of a prominent US technology partner to finance a £4 billion data centre initiative located on an 83-acre site in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Despite the ambitious nature of the project, the developers have yet to finalise a partnership with any major tech firms, although discussions have hinted at potential involvement from key players such as Google, Amazon, or Microsoft.
James Craig, the director of Griggs, revealed these plans in a meeting with the South Mimms & Ridge Parish Council. When questioned about funding, Craig remarked, “I don’t need to. Google and Jeffrey Bezos have more money than God.” This bold statement underscores the scale and ambition behind the project, which, if realised, would result in one of the largest data centres in Europe, despite Griggs’ limited history in constructing such facilities.
Further elaborating on the venture, Craig mentioned that Griggs has already acquired a hotel and nearby land intended for conversion into part of the data centre complex. Additionally, they have collaborated with a data centre company and partnered with Chiltern Green Energy to ensure a substantial power supply – a crucial aspect of the project.
The development strategy also includes transforming a local pub into an ‘innovation hub’. This space is designed to benefit the community, offering resources like a studio, video editing suite, and a coding suite, aimed at enabling local residents and schoolchildren to develop new skills. Once completed, the innovation hub will be managed by the council, ensuring its integration and benefit to the local area.
In a recent update, Griggs secured planning permission to convert the pub into residential flats, while also committing to local community improvements, including an enhanced bus service for villagers in South Mimms. The UK government has expressed its endorsement of the proposal, highlighting it as “a vote of confidence in our plans to support the sector to thrive, ensuring everyone across society can feel the economic benefits of its growth.”
The ambitious DC01UK project exemplifies potential growth in UK tech infrastructure through international partnerships.
