Why the SDC M40 Campus is needed
"Data centres house and support the technology and data that meet the demands of our digital lives. They underpin almost all economic activity and innovation."
Cyber security and resilience policy statement, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, April 2025
Data centres are buildings dedicated to housing computers and digital storage. They are vital to the UK economy and support the online networks that we all rely on – from emails and the internet to NHS records and national defence.
The government has designated data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure’ because of their crucial role in supporting the growth of the UK economy and the importance of ‘data sovereignty’ – helping to control the security and safety of our data.
The need for added capacity has skyrocketed in recent years.
A lack of necessary digital infrastructure restricts the ability of businesses to innovate. Those that rely on digital infrastructure to make future business decisions will locate elsewhere - meaning the UK loses out on investment from global players.
The location of data centres determines the quality of service they provide - they need to be located in clusters known as availability zones, which are digitally well-connected areas. This ensures people and businesses can access their data quickly.
Slough Availability Zone
SDC M40 Campus will be situated within the Slough Availability Zone (SAZ), recognised as the largest and most important in the UK due to its proximity to digital infrastructure and clustering of existing data centres. These play a critical role both within the UK and as a global service.
The SAZ is vital to the UK increasing its data centre capacity due to its high-speed digital connections in the form of fibre optic cables, and its proximity to other data centre providers.
