Colt DCS to Expand Data Centre Capacity at London Campus

Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) has received committee approval, a Resolution to Grant, from Hillingdon Council to expand Hayes Digital Park in West London with three hyperscale data centres and an Innovation Hub.

It sets out a £2.5bn (US$3.4bn) programme covering new capacity, skills development and heat re-use linked to local users.

The plan covers three buildings, London 6, London 7 and London 8. Colt DCS says the facilities will use 100% renewable electricity through a Power Purchase Agreement. 

Contracts with National Grid are in place, with a high voltage supply due by October 2027. The expansion adds 97MW of available IT power, taking Hayes Digital Park to 160MW once fully delivered.

Xavier Matagne, Chief Real Estate Officer at Colt DCS, says: “This announcement marks another important milestone for the UK’s digital economy.

“Data centres are a cornerstone of digital transformation. With this expansion, we can help power innovation, support the AI revolution and contribute to the energy transition.”

Colt DCS Hayes campus power and timeline

Colt DCS plans to start construction in mid-2026. The first facility, London 6, is scheduled to go live in early 2029. It  indicates staged delivery as demand comes online and as electrical capacity is commissioned. Grid power will be the primary source. Under the permission, back-up generators can operate for up to 15 hours per year for testing and exceptional needs.

The additional 97MW is expected to phase in as white space is fitted out. The campus sits within West London fibre routes and existing utility corridors. The company states the PPA framework is intended to match contracted load during operations.

Xavier says: “Our new campus in Hayes, including the Innovation Hub in partnership with Brunel University, will drive community value, from reusing heat for district heating to creating jobs, skills and long-term investment. 

“As one of the few operators capable of delivering new capacity in this area of London over the next decade, we’re proud to be helping power the UK’s future economy in a sustainable and inclusive way.”

Colt DCS Innovation Hub with Brunel University

Alongside the data halls, Colt DCS will develop an Innovation Hub with Brunel University. The hub is planned as a community space and an incubator for digital start-ups, with an emphasis on affordable workspace and access to equipment. 

The intent is to co-locate light-industrial activity with digital businesses to support prototyping and early production. Students from Brunel University will be encouraged to develop entrepreneurial projects and technology-led ventures linked to the wider digital economy.

Programming at the hub is expected to connect students, SMEs and established firms through research, venture support and practical workspace. The proposal highlights opportunities for collaboration and skills development through proximity to operators and suppliers at Hayes.

AECOM design role for Colt DCS hub

AECOM has been appointed to develop the Innovation Hub design proposals. The facility is intended to operate within Strategic Industrial Land policy, with flexibility for future industrial use. The plan  includes the capacity to host local events focused on culture, food, film, music and literature, aligning the building’s layout with community access.

Integration with campus utilities will include heat recovery interfaces, control systems and any required thermal storage to support the district heating network. Electrical design will reflect the generator testing regime and commissioning milestones tied to National Grid’s delivery date.

District heating network and generator limits

Colt DCS will deliver a district heating network using waste heat from the data centres to support local businesses, community facilities and residential buildings. 

The permission sets operating limits for back-up generators at 15 hours per year. The company says normal operations will draw from the national grid under the contracted PPA.

Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, says: “Hillingdon is open for business and we're working closely with our business community, new and existing investors and partners to drive innovation and development in the right places. 

“The innovation hub is an exciting new development that will help to foster economic growth. It will help to equip residents and smaller local businesses with the right skills, affordable workspaces and opportunities to thrive. 

“Hayes is playing a leading role in shaping London's digital economy and infrastructure and its vital local people have more opportunities to experience the benefits.”