Masterplanning a 1.4 GW UK data centre campus

Building the foundations for high-density computing

For this confidential new UK development, Hoare Lea is acting as Lead Consultant, overseeing the masterplan, design and programme management, and integrated mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) delivery. The campus is being planned in phases, giving the operator flexibility to respond to changing technology and operational requirements while supporting long-term growth.

A phased approach also creates a more adaptable framework for delivery. Early decisions must support the first stage of development without limiting future buildings, infrastructure or operational models. This means considering the wider campus from the outset, rather than treating each phase as a separate project.

Designing for higher-density computing

The development is being designed to accommodate next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) servers and higher-density compute environments. Liquid-to-liquid cooling technology forms part of that strategy, changing how heat is managed within the data centre and influencing the design of the supporting infrastructure.

Cooling cannot be considered in isolation. It needs to align with electrical loads, plant space, distribution routes and the sequencing of future phases. By integrating these requirements early, the team will ensure that the technology strategy is reflected across the wider campus design, rather than introduced as a late-stage adjustment.

This approach is particularly important for a development of this scale, where small changes at building level can have significant implications for site-wide power, utilities and infrastructure.

Connecting the whole system

Hoare Lea is coordinating a broad multidisciplinary scope spanning civil engineering, structures, architecture, geotechnics, MEP, sustainability, fire engineering, security, utilities, acoustics, lighting, air quality, high-voltage systems and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Each discipline brings a different perspective on how the campus will be delivered, operated and expanded. Our role is to connect those perspectives into a coherent masterplan and delivery strategy, managing complex interfaces before they become constraints.

The work will bring building-level design together with the infrastructure needed to support the campus as a whole. It will also provide a clear basis for phased development, which will help the operator respond to changing requirements while maintaining alignment between technology, engineering and programme.

At exceptional scale, coordination is not an additional layer of design. It is what allows the development to grow in a controlled and adaptable way.

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