The planning process

SDC will submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for SDC M40 Campus. This route to planning consent is for ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (NSIPs) and is underpinned by the Planning Act 2008. The Secretary of State will make a decision on whether to grant a DCO.  

In early January 2026, reforms to the planning system, which enabled data centres to be consented under the NSIP regime, came into force. Previously, any planning application for a data centre required permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.  

In late January 2026, SDC applied for a direction (under section 35 of the Planning Act 2008) to enable the data centre campus to be consented under the NSIP regime.  In March 2026, the Secretary of State gave a direction that the data centre campus should be treated as development of national significance for which a DCO is required.  

The energy centre component of SDC M40 Campus already qualifies as an NSIP under the Planning Act 2008, requiring a DCO.   

SDC is therefore bringing forward a single DCO application which incorporates the data centre campus, the energy centre and related associated development.  This reflects SDC M40 Campus being a single, integrated project.  

Local stakeholders, including Buckinghamshire Council, local residents and town and parish councils, are important consultees in the NSIP planning process and SDC is committed to involving the local community as the proposals for SDC M40 Campus progress.

The applicant

The applicant for the DCO will be Slough Holdings UK Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of affiliated investment funds managed by SDC Capital Partners, LLC.

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