Frequently asked questions

Plans and details of the proposed layout, size, height and design will be published as part of our second stage of public consultation, informed by ongoing technical and ecological assessments.

We want to limit any visual impact on neighbours, which is one of the reasons we have identified this site as being appropriate to accommodate the proposed development.  It is naturally well-contained, being located between the M40 and A40, and has varying topography which will allow the data centre campus to be located in the lower part of the site. 

 We’re also looking at how we may be able to excavate soil so that the data centre campus is located below existing ground level. 

No – we are not proposing any buildings on landfill cells. These are contained sections of landfill across the wider site which will continue to be managed and monitored in accordance with Veolia’s environmental permit.

The area where we are proposing to build the data centre campus was formerly used for mineral extraction, and therefore any soil excavation in this part of the site would not impact existing landfill cells.

The area proposed for development of the data centre campus is outlined in red on the map on the homepage of our website.

We are conscious of pressures on water resources, and the project will be designed to avoid putting strain on local water supplies.

We are exploring technologies such as ‘closed loop cooling’, which minimises water use by recirculating a fixed volume of water in a closed system. We are also considering ‘evaporative cooling’, which cools the system with captured rainwater, as well as air-cooling methods using chillers and air handling units.

Our proposals for the on-site energy centre will continue to be developed over the coming months with Veolia, our energy engineer and also the landowner of the site.  Veolia has extensive experience in developing and providing innovative, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions.

Our current intention is to use a gas-based solution initially to deliver power directly to the data centre campus, which will help mitigate pressure on the local grid.  This would include the use of an existing gas pipeline which already crosses the site, and we are in dialogue with network provider Cadent to confirm that there is capacity without impacting existing commitments.

While the existing landfill waste methane centre will remain in place, power from the energy centre will not be generated using waste from the landfill cells.

In parallel, we are also considering a range of options to ensure the energy centre is future-proofed in line with the government’s decarbonisation readiness agenda, and we are exploring a range of decarbonisation technologies.

Further information about plans for the energy centre will be available at our second stage of public consultation in 2026.

The data centre campus is anticipated to create around 400 new permanent on-site operational jobs.

Data centre jobs encompass a diverse range of responsibilities that focus on the management, maintenance, and operation of sites housing computer systems, telecommunications, and storage systems. Example roles within the data centre building include server facility technicians, network engineers, systems administrator, information hub design. These are all highly skilled and well-paid jobs that directly serve the data centre operations.

In terms of the energy centre, the operational phase includes plant operators, engineers, maintenance technicians and management. These too are highly skilled and well-paid positions. 

The project as a whole will also include roles associated with the wider site including security, facilities management, landscaping, estate management and other support functions.

In addition, around 1,000 new jobs would be created during the construction period.

We are currently exploring a range of options but it is likely that construction traffic will use the existing access road off the A40 – this is the current access route to the site.  We will be able to share further information about our proposals for a construction traffic management plan at the next stage of consultation in 2026.  

In addition, we are proposing to create a new access point for data centre campus staff at the north-west of the site off the Oxford Road (A40), next to the Beaconsfield Recycling Centre.  This new access would be for operation of the data centre campus, and could also be used during the later stages of construction.  The recycling centre is not part of the plans and would remain in place. 

Consideration is being given to using the existing access at the south-east corner of the site onto Hedgerley Lane as a secondary emergency access.  Again, further details will be available at our second stage of consultation following further studies and in consultation with Buckinghamshire Highways

A map showing these proposed accesses can be viewed on our Transport and access website page.