<\/p>\n
\n An application could be approved by Cherwell District Council, the planning authority, to build a 104,008 sq m data centre in Graven Hill, next door to St Davids Barracks.\n<\/p>\n
\n After outline planning permission was granted in October 2023 with 47 conditions, the application was submitted in December 2025.\n<\/p>\n
\n The proposed development comprises eight data centre buildings, each designed to accommodated IT infrastructure with a maximum utility capacity of 435MW – roughly the same power as one million homes.\n<\/p>\n
\n Each data centre, which would have backup power generation facilities, is designed to accommodate computing infrastructure, which has an IT capacity of 290MW.\n<\/p>\n
\n There would also be a substation to the southwest of the site.\n<\/p>\n
\n Proposed site plan at Graven Hill data centre (Image: Atelier Gooch)\n<\/p>\n
\n The site was formerly used by the Ministry of Defence for storage and distribution purposes dating back to 1942.\n<\/p>\n
\n If approved, it is anticipated that between 500 and 800 jobs will be created once the site is fully operational with half of these position expected to be remote.\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE: Plans proposed for an eight-bedroom HMO in Bicester\n<\/p>\n
\n Unlike a typical warehouse, data centres are full of servers that store digital ‘cloud’ services, which use large amounts of power and generate a substantial amount of heat.\n<\/p>\n
\n The growth of Information Technology infrastructure services, such as ‘cloud’ computing, have expanded at pace with data centres at the core.\n<\/p>\n
\n Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 recognised data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure’ to enable the development of technology industries.\n<\/p>\n
\n However, key issues raised by the Graven Hill Resident’s Association include power, cooling, water and heat reuse, as well as noise.\n<\/p>\n
\n One of the biggest issues to developing Bicester has been ensuring sufficient electricity supply can meet the demands of the growing town, with a number of sites previously stalled as there is no National Grid capacity, developers say.\n<\/p>\n
\n This problem is only expected to get worse with estimates that the UK’s total electricity demand will rise by 50 per cent in 10 years.\n<\/p>\n
\n Birds eye view of the Graven Hill data centre (Image: Atelier Gooch)\n<\/p>\n
\n The data centres are cooled using a combination of mechanical coolers and free cooling, which uses little water, but the latter is insufficient around 40 per cent of the year.\n<\/p>\n
\n A noise and vibration assessment at 10 locations around Graven Hill showed acceptable levels but locations closest showed an adverse impact.\n<\/p>\n
\n Additionally, as the electric energy turns into heat, this could be used to warm nearby homes. While this was mentioned as a possibility, there has been no other initiatives.\n<\/p>\n
\n Other concerns include about employment, planning processes, lighting and ecology.\n<\/p>\n
\n Cherwell District Council is expected to make a decision today (Friday, April 10).\n<\/p>\n
#Plans #largest #data #centres #M40<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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