CyrusOne Launches UK's US$1.6bn Sustainable Data Centre
CyrusOne confirms its latest move in the UK’s digital infrastructure space, revealing plans for a 90 MW data centre campus at Iver Heath, just outside London.
This facility, named LON6, will be the sixth CyrusOne site in the UK and reflects the company's intent to align expansion with local environmental and social considerations.
Scheduled to break ground in Q3 2026 and deliver initial capacity by early 2028, the site is backed by a long-term commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.
CyrusOne states that the new campus forms part of a broader European growth programme, with an emphasis on balancing development with community and ecological improvement.
“This development marks an important step in our European growth journey,” says Matt Pullen, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, at CyrusOne.
"We’re thrilled to be announcing our plans for this new facility and continuing our growth in London."
Embedding sustainability into data infrastructure
LON6 aims to set a new benchmark for green data centre construction.
Designed to blend into the surrounding environment, the campus will include planted walls and green roofs.
It also pledges a 71% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), a measure used to assess how much a development improves biodiversity compared to the original baseline , which is more than seven times the 10% threshold set by UK government policy.
The data centre will be powered entirely by certified renewable electricity, sourced from the Iver Grid Supply Point and provided by SSEN.
It is also targeting a “BREEAM Excellent” rating, the second-highest certification in the UK’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, which evaluates a building’s environmental performance.
Landscaping plans show the project will plant 670 trees, establish more than 7,000 square metres of woodland and create 90,600 square metres of mixed meadow and acid grassland.
In total, 72,800 square metres of the site will be designated as public green space, equipped with walking and cycling routes for local use.
A long-term Landscape Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) underpins the scheme, securing public access and ecological upkeep for at least 25 years.
The design intends to not only restore natural habitats but also improve the quality of the adjacent Colne Valley Regional Park.
The commitment includes:
- 71% Biodiversity Net Gain
- 670 new trees
- 72,800 sqm of accessible green space
- 100% certified renewable electricity
- BREEAM “Excellent” design target
Investment and community benefits in focus
Beyond sustainability, CyrusOne outlines how LON6 will generate economic and social value.
The company projects more than1,100 jobs will be created during the construction and operational phases.
It also places the total investment value at £1.2bn (US$1.62bn), marking a sizeable injection into both the local and national economy.
A purpose-built training centre will sit within the campus, offering industry-focused education for employees and students.
This includes extending the firm’s partnership with UTC Heathrow, aimed at boosting local skill development in digital and technical careers.
Community-specific commitments include:
- More than 1,100 jobs during development and operations
- £1.2bn (US$1.62bn) investment into UK economy
- Specialist training centre embedded on-site
Matt Pullen notes: “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. 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.”
Support has also been received from several arms of government, including HM Treasury, the UK Department of Business & Trade (DBT), the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and the Office for Investment (OFI).
These collaborations have helped the project reach its current stage.
Building a greener AI future for the UK
The project’s timing coincides with the UK’s ambition to become a hub for AI infrastructure.
The government’s classification of data centres as critical national infrastructure (CNI) has helped fast-track developments like LON6.
As AI drives up demand for computing and energy resources, CyrusOne's efficient large-scale centres look set to play a key role.
“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," says Matt.
"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.”
Government figures back up the urgency.
Data centre energy usage is forecast to jump from 62 terawatt-hours (TWh) to more than 150 TWh by 2030, according to McKinsey.
That level of growth – largely powered by AI – makes sustainable power sourcing and efficient design essential.
MP Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, comments: “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.
“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 more than 30 apprenticeship opportunities for young people, turbocharging economic growth in the area and helping us deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand