SF Planning Ltd recently submitted a planning application on behalf of clients, Lightmoor, for the substantial reconfiguration and extension of the existing data centre at the Barnett Way Business Estate, Gloucester.
The proposals, known as Shield House, will bring a long vacant site back into use as a 21st century data storage centre, all housed within a stylish and contemporary building. The plans for this striking building were prepared by Edge Design Workshop, and will bring new high technology employment to Gloucester.
A recently published Government programme called “Tech Nation – Powering the Digital Economy 2015”, outlines the need to accelerate the growth of technology clusters. The report highlights that Gloucester sits between both the wider Bristol & Bath and Great Malvern cyber technology clusters. In particular, the Great Malvern cluster (also known as ‘Cyber Valley’) specialises in cyber security, centred around GCHQ.
Gloucester is also located within the UK’s national fibre optic ‘figure of eight’, which gives direct digital infrastructure access to the whole of the UK, with ideal target areas being Bristol, Birmingham, Swindon, Oxford and Cardiff. There is also the option of independent fibre connectivity to Ireland & USA, providing independence from the established internet hubs of London and Manchester.
Given the strategic importance, Shield House data centre is ideally located and has been designed at a scale to be able to serve the needs of 100s of businesses, whether small or large, regional or local.
Working closely with Gloucester City Council officers throughout the process, SF Planning was able to secure an officer recommendation to permit. Due to the scale of the proposals, the application was required to be determined at Planning Committee level. Following the Planning Committee meeting on 2 February 2016, we are delighted to confirm that unanimous support was achieved and planning permission has been granted.
This project represents a significant step forward for the cyber security, high tech industry and digital economy in the area; a rapidly growing business sector. Given the locational importance of Gloucester, this will be a fantastic and necessary facility for modern business. More information on this project is available at indectron.com.
For further details please contact Mark Godson at SF Planning.