West London hyperscale data centre approved in £1bn digital infrastructure boost
Pure Data Centres and SEGRO have secured planning approval for a major hyperscale data centre development at Premier Park in west London, representing a £1 billion investment into the capital’s growing digital infrastructure sector. The scheme was approved by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation planning committee and will transform a redundant warehouse site into a state of the art, liquid cooled facility designed to support increasing demand for AI ready infrastructure and high capacity computing. Designed by Scott Brownrigg, the three storey development will provide 72MW of power capacity across 22,365 sq m of floorspace. The facility will include nine data halls, office accommodation, storage areas, plant space and a secure entrance pavilion, alongside a dedicated substation to power the site. Construction is expected to commence in 2026, with the project being delivered through a joint venture between Pure Data Centres Group and SEGRO. The building has been designed with operational efficiency at its core, using a simple linear layout to maximise IT capacity while maintaining a strong architectural presence within the surrounding industrial landscape. The scheme has also been developed with sustainability in mind, targeting BREEAM Excellent certification and EPC A rated office space. Environmental measures include photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting systems and the potential use of heat recovery technology to improve energy performance and reduce operational impact. The approval further strengthens Park Royal’s position as a key industrial, logistics and technology hub in west London, as demand for advanced digital infrastructure continues to accelerate across the UK market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Castleforge and Galaxy Data Centers to expand £500m Redhill campus near London, serving growing demand for low-carbon capacity
Real estate investor Castleforge, in partnership with full-service data centre operator and advisory firm Galaxy Data Centers, today announces that full planning consent has been granted for a new 15MW data centre development at its Redhill campus. Located just outside of London, the new development will include four data halls and support a local waste heat recovery initiative. Following approval from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Planning Committee, the consented project marks a significant step forward in the joint venture’s plans to expand digital infrastructure capacity in the London market, following the partnership’s £100 million-plus investment in the existing Redhill Data Centre campus in December 2024. The scaling of the campus will see a follow-on £200m investment into the campus with a gross project value of around £500m. Situated on the existing 3.1-hectare industrial estate at Foxboro Business Park, the consented project comprises a single two-storey data centre with four data halls and an accompanying office block. The development has been designed to achieve a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating and incorporates a range of low and zero carbon technologies. Waste heat generated by the facility will be reused on site, and the design enables future export of waste heat to the neighbouring residential heat network, supporting the wider community’s transition to lower carbon energy. The expansion follows surging demand for digital infrastructure across the London market, driven by advancements in AI, cloud computing and hybrid workloads. Demand for data continues to significantly outstrip current levels of power supply, with the difficulty of constructing new data centres around major metropolitan areas making established hubs increasingly attractive prospects for investment. Mike Adcock, Head of Investments at Castleforge, said: “Securing planning consent for our new development at Redhill is a major milestone in our plans to deliver high-quality, sustainable digital infrastructure to one of the world’s most important data centre markets. “Demand for capacity in and around London continues to outpace supply, and this consent enables us to bring forward the additional power and scale required to serve enterprise, hyperscale and edge customers. We are particularly proud of the project’s sustainability credentials, including the potential to export waste heat to local homes, which reflects our commitment to creating places that deliver lasting value for both customers and the surrounding community.” Paul Leong, Chief Financial Officer and Partner of Galaxy Data Centers, said: “This planning consent is a pivotal step in realising the long-term vision we set out when we acquired Redhill alongside Castleforge. “The new facility will significantly expand the capacity available to our customers and ensure Redhill is positioned to meet the evolving needs of edge, hyperscale and enterprise users. We are proud to be delivering a development that combines operational excellence with meaningful sustainability outcomes, and we look forward to bringing the project forward in close collaboration with the local community.” The Redhill campus currently spans 11,800 square metres across three buildings serving a dynamic existing customer base, including Fortune 500 enterprises across financial services, AI and other sectors. Customers are drawn to the site’s secured green energy, low-latency connectivity to data centre hubs including Slough and the Docklands, and scalable infrastructure. London remains the largest and most dominant data centre market in Europe, and the second largest globally after Northern Virginia. According to CBRE, the European data centre market continues to demonstrate strong year-on-year growth, with significant development activity across Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris. With planning consent now secured, Castleforge and Galaxy will move forward with the next phase of development, with further milestones to be announced in due course. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Type One Energy, Tokamak Energy, and AECOM form the UK Infinity Fusion Consortium to accelerate development of a commercial fusion power plant in the United Kingdom
Type One Energy, Tokamak Energy, and AECOM today announced the UK Infinity Fusion Consortium to pursue development of the first private-sector-led fusion power plant project in the United Kingdom. Together, the companies intend to develop a fusion project that is commercially credible, deployable using existing enabling technologies, and capable of attracting private capital —consistent with the long-term goals of the government’s recently announced UK Fusion Strategy. This announcement comes at a time of increasing U.S.-U.K. bilateral cooperation on fusion. His Majesty King Charles III said during his address to the United States Congress last week that, “Our nations are combining talent and resources in the technologies of tomorrow: our new partnerships in nuclear fusion and quantum computing, and in AI and drug discovery, holding the promise of saving countless lives.” The Consortium partners are all members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), a global CEO-led network founded by His Majesty King Charles III with the mandate to lead the private sector in accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy. At its core, the UK Infinity Fusion Consortiumcombines Type One Energy’s 400 MWe Infinity Two stellarator fusion power plant design, AECOM’s leading engineering capabilities, and Tokamak Energy’s HTS magnet technology and manufacturing expertise in the UK. The Consortium will use these capabilities to develop a UK Infinity Two fusion power plant project that will include participation by the broader UK fusion value chain spanning construction, finance, offtake and other supply chain partners. The Consortium will build on the UK’s significant investment in magnetic confinement fusion technology, supply chain capabilities, regulation, and power plant siting for the government’s STEP Fusion programme. It will also capitalize on the synergy and experience gained from the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) Infinity Two fusion power plant project at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) Bull Run site in the United States, which is targeted for commercial operation in 2034. The TVA Infinity Two project is being supported by the U.S. government’s own fusion programmes and provides a strong technical and programmatic foundation for the UK Infinity Two deployment project. The development of a UK Infinity Two fusion power plant project by the Consortium is aligned with the UK Government’s strategy to move from world-leading fusion science to commercial deployment — a strategy guiding the STEP Fusion programme. The Consortium will create a private-sector-led fusion commercialization pathway complementing the STEP Fusion programme. The UK Infinity Two project further scales growth of the UK fusion supply chain and accelerates time-to-market for this critical new energy source, while strengthening the country’s industrial base. Chris Mowry, Chief Executive Officer, Type One Energy, said:“Fusion needs to be delivered, not just developed. This Consortium brings together the core industrial capabilities in the UK and US required to deploy real-world fusion power plant projects that are commercially viable. By aligning fusion technology, advanced manufacturing, and power plant engineering, we are closing the gap between today’s energy innovation and tomorrow’s energy infrastructure. Our initiative is fully aligned with UK and US ambitions to be leaders in commercial fusion deployment.” Warrick Matthews, Chief Executive Officer, Tokamak Energy, said:“This Consortium puts Tokamak Energy’s transformative magnet technology and manufacturing expertise in the centre of another world-class fusion programme. Together, we can accelerate towards commercialising a new form of limitless, clean energy and, in combination with our role as STEP magnet systems partner, strengthen the UK supply chain’s leadership in global fusion.” Troy Rudd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AECOM, said: “Fusion represents one of the most important long-term energy solutions, offering a clean, safe and reliable source of power for future generations. Delivering on fusion’s potential requires disciplined engineering, well-established infrastructure delivery models and collaboration across the entire energy ecosystem. Through this Consortium, AECOM is bringing its global experience in complex energy infrastructure to help lay the groundwork for commercial fusion projects that can scale with confidence, supporting the UK’s energy system while strengthening its industrial and infrastructure base.” Lord Vallance, UK Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, said: “This government is backing fusion with over £2.5 billion and recently announced a deal with the United States, which includes closer working on fusion research and development, taking us closer to a future powered by limitless clean energy. Our long-term vision and investment in the sector is now helping turn that ambition into reality.” Lord Stockwood, UK Minister for Investment, said: “The UK is a world leader in renewables, and this consortium will play a key role in new fusion projects, creating exciting opportunities for people in local communities. We’re serious about the benefits of clean energy technologies, which is why our modern Industrial Strategy is attracting investment into the sector to boost economic growth as the UK powers towards net zero.” Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) said: “Type One Energy, Tokamak Energy and AECOM have come together as members of the SMI, demonstrating the SMI’s Terra Carta and Astra Carta mandates in action — business and finance working together to turn breakthrough innovation into measurable progress in building a more sustainable future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals About Type One Energy Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state-of-the-art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies. Type One Energy applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system. Its FusionDirect™ development program pursues the lowest-risk, shortest-schedule path to a fusion power plant over the coming decade, using a partner-intensive and capital-efficient strategy. Type One Energy is committed to community engagement in the development and deployment of its clean energy technology. About Tokamak Energy Tokamak Energy is a global leader in high temperature superconducting (HTS) and fusion technologies founded in 2009 as a spin out from UK Atomic Energy Authority. The company
HTB provides £13.5m facility to support repositioning of Leeds residential and PBSA scheme
Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has provided a £13.5 million facility to support the repositioning of the Kirkstall Brewery campus in Leeds, refinancing existing debt and partially repaying a previous lender. The 18-month facility is secured against a 664-bed former student village in Kirkstall. This comprises a 442-bed parcel with full planning consent for conversion into 151 Class C3 apartments, alongside 202 retained Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds, creating a scheme with multiple potential end uses across Private Rented Sector (PRS) and student accommodation. The structure provides time for asset management and stabilisation, enabling the repositioning of the scheme while maintaining flexibility across a range of exit routes. These include disposal or refinance of the PRS element, sale or long-term leasing of the PBSA accommodation, or a whole-site disposal. No development is planned during the loan term, with refurbishment of the PBSA element funded by borrower equity. The transaction builds on progress already achieved at the site, including the disposal of an eastern parcel to an institutional investor and a long-term lease agreed with Leeds City Council across part of the retained accommodation. The lease is expected to deliver approximately £2.5 million per annum of savings to the council over its term. Full planning consent was granted by Leeds City Council in November 2025 for the conversion of the PRS parcel, providing a clear basis for the next phase of the scheme. Introduced by Johnny Grassick, Associate Director at GLPG, the deal was led by Alexia Evans, Lending Director at Hampshire Trust Bank, supported by Olivia Emmett. Alexia Evans, Lending Director at Hampshire Trust Bank, said: “This was a scheme where the key consideration was how the asset would be managed over time, not just its position today. “With planning in place and clear progress already made, the focus was on structuring a facility that allows that to continue without forcing an early decision, while remaining aligned to how the site will be worked through in practice.” Johnny Grassick, Associate Director at GLPG, said: “There wasn’t a single, defined exit here, but that reflects the strength of the site. “With planning in place, a number of viable routes forward and progress already achieved on parts of the scheme, including the lease to Leeds City Council, the key was putting a structure in place that didn’t restrict those options too early. “This gives the borrower the flexibility to build on that momentum and take the right route as the scheme evolves.” Neil Leitch, Managing Director, Development Finance at Hampshire Trust Bank, said: “This type of transaction is becoming more common where the focus is on repositioning existing assets rather than moving straight into development. “Where planning is already in place, the emphasis shifts to how the scheme is managed, how income is stabilised and how the exit is delivered over time. “That requires a structure which gives the borrower the flexibility to work through those stages properly, rather than forcing a single outcome too early.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool John Lennon Airport boosts performance and reliability with Telent’s CCTV assurance platform
Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been working with Telent, the mission-critical technology specialist, to trial its CCTV assurance platform, Arbitex, giving technical teams continuous visibility into the condition and performance of the airport’s CCTV estate. The three‑month trial, which has now concluded, enabled the airport to assess how automated daily checks on each camera improve oversight and maintenance planning. Arbitex verifies connectivity, confirms alignment against reference images and assesses image quality, including detecting contamination such as dirt or obstruction. Throughout the trial, Telent worked closely with Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s Technical Services team and the airport’s on-site maintenance contractor throughout the trial. This included methodical onboarding, calibration of reference frames and refinement of reporting parameters to ensure the entire camera estate was accurately represented. Together, the teams configured the platform to reflect the scale and operational importance of the airport’s CCTV infrastructure. The automated monitoring provided structured assurance that cameras are performing as expected. Instead of relying solely on reactive fault reporting or periodic inspection, engineers can identify potential performance issues earlier and schedule targeted maintenance where required. The consistent, data‑driven insight delivered by Arbitex offered earlier visibility of issues before they could impact operations. In this type of critical infrastructure environment, this level of visibility provides confidence that CCTV systems remain aligned and operational, supporting the day-to-day running of the airport. “Arbitex is designed to give organisations confidence in the condition of their critical systems. Continuous monitoring of camera performance and image quality enables teams to identify changes early and maintain infrastructure more effectively. Working with Liverpool John Lennon Airport allowed us to tailor the platform to the operational demands of a busy airport environment,” said Reg Cook, Director of Asset Management at Telent. “Operationally, Arbitex has become an invaluable tool for monitoring the health and condition of our CCTV estate. The platform provides consistent visibility of system performance and early insight into potential issues, allowing us to take a more proactive approach to maintenance. In a critical infrastructure environment, that level of assurance is extremely valuable,” said Michael Brown, Head of Technical Services at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Following the successful completion of the trial, the next phase sees Telent begin its contracted rollout of Arbitex at Liverpool John Lennon Airport from 1 April. The rollout phase will see the platform extended across the full CCTV estate, supporting a more consistent and data‑driven maintenance approach. The platform gives the airport clearer visibility of system performance, offering early warning of degrading camera performance before it impacts operations. Overall, the trial demonstrated tangible operational benefits, supporting a more proactive maintenance model and strengthening system assurance. Learn more about Telent’s Arbitex platform here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SEGRO signs with Asendia for newly renovated SEGRO Park Axis
SEGRO, a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses, industrial property and data centres, has signed an agreement to lease SEGRO Park Axis, a standalone, recently upgraded Grade A+ building totalling 81,500 sq ft, to Asendia, a major international mail and e-commerce parcel shipping specialist SEGRO Park Axis is strategically located close to the M4, Heathrow Airport and the Heathrow Cargo Centre, and will serve as Asendia’s primary international parcel processing, mail distribution and air conveyance centre for the UK, supporting both the company’s domestic and international operations. Asendia, founded as a joint venture between La Poste and Swiss Post is expected to move in by January 2027, following a major back to frame redevelopment and extension that will see 29,349 sq ft added to the previous unit. Enhancements include an increased internal eaves height of up to 15 metres and new office space, with completion scheduled for September 2026. Designed with sustainability at its core, the enhanced facility is targeting BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A+ ratings, with key features including photovoltaic panels, dedicated cycle parking and 20 per cent electric vehicle charging provision. The scheme will also support SEGRO’s embodied carbon targets, with a base build design of 332kg/m². Anna Bond, Head of Western Corridor at SEGRO, commented: “Asendia’s commitment to SEGRO Park Axis highlights the critical role that well located industrial and logistics infrastructure plays in supporting international trade and investment. Sites close to Heathrow Airport are increasingly scarce, and global businesses need confidence that the right space can be delivered in the right place, to the right standard. By investing in high quality, low carbon infrastructure in this corridor, we’re providing the long term platform companies like Asendia need to grow and operate successfully in the UK, and we’re pleased to have them on board.” Carl Loader, Chief Operating Officer, Asendia UK, added: “We’re pleased to be partnering with SEGRO on this new facility, which marks an important step in strengthening our UK operations and supporting our continued growth. “Sustainability has been a key consideration throughout the design, reflecting our broader ESG ambitions and commitment to reducing environmental impact. At the same time, the flexibility of the space enables us to design workflows that support greater automation and operational efficiency as our business evolves. “SEGRO Park Axis gives us the scale, specification and reliability required to operate a high-volume international parcel hub, while meeting the expectations of our customers and partners. It provides a strong operational base for our UK business within our wider European and global supply chain. “Just as important is the environment we create for our people. The facility has been designed to support both our operational and office teams, with spaces that encourage collaboration and innovation, alongside areas to step back and recharge. “As a Great Place to Work certified organisation, we place real importance on creating an environment where our people can thrive. Alongside our ongoing focus on ESG performance, including continuing to improve our EcoVadis rating, this investment reflects our commitment to supporting our people, driving performance and building for the long term for the benefit of our customers. SEGRO understands what globally mobile businesses require and has been a strong partner as we continue to invest in our UK operations.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals