Richard Haigh of Vantage Data Centres at Data Centre LIVE

In some of Europe’s busiest cities, many operators are faced with the serious challenge of fitting more capacity into less space.

The other hurdle is meeting local planning requirements while hitting company sustainability targets.

Speaking at Data Centre LIVE, Richard Haigh, Director of Operations EMEA at Vantage Data Centers, explained how the company tailors facilities to the demands of each market.

This includes dense urban environments in London to large-scale greenfield developments across Europe and South Africa.

He also outlined how community engagement and energy efficiency are becoming core parts of modern data centre operations.

Adapting data centre design to location

Vantage operates across EMEA as part of a wider global business with facilities in Europe, North America and Asia.

According to Richard, flexibility is a defining feature of the company’s approach.

He said: “I think we are not stuck with one particular type and brand. We'll put a data centre wherever that data centre needs to be.”

That means facilities take very different forms depending on local constraints. In London, where land is scarce, Vantage develops urban sites that fit into existing parcels of land.

In locations such as Newport near Cardiff, developments are more likely to be large greenfield projects or conversions of former industrial facilities.

Across the wider EMEA portfolio, each market presents different requirements.

Ireland combines multiple approaches depending on land availability and access to power.

Frankfurt is characterised by large clusters of data centres on industrial sites, while Zurich tends to be more urban in nature.

Milan developments extend beyond the city centre and are typically built on greenfield locations, with South Africa following a similar model.

Vantage adapts its facilities to local conditions and infrastructure availability, instead of applying a standard blueprint everywhere,

One of the clearest examples is LHR 21 in London. Built on a compact site, the facility demonstrates how operators are increasing capacity within constrained urban environments.

“So it's probably the most compact data centre I've ever been in – and I've worked in data centres across the world, including places like Hong Kong, where you've only got vertical space; you have no land to go outward."

The site features five storeys of data halls, alongside dedicated mechanical and electrical infrastructure, creating a seven-storey facility on just over an acre of developed land.

Despite the limited footprint, the data centre delivers 20MW of capacity while accommodating cooling systems, generators and supporting infrastructure.

Building a ‘good neighbour’ presence

As data centre development accelerates across major markets, community engagement is also becoming more important. Richard explained how this process begins well before construction starts.

“It really starts with the planning. We've got to understand what the local planning authority wants.”

This includes Vantage's close work with local authorities and community groups. In London, the company focuses on engagement with schools and colleges, creating local employment opportunities and encouraging the use of nearby businesses and transport links.

The objective is to demonstrate that a data centre can contribute positively to the surrounding area and is not just an isolated piece of infrastructure.

Efficiency and district heating initiatives

Alongside community commitments, sustainability is a major focus for data centre operators seeking to reduce resource consumption while supporting growing digital demand.

“Our data centres in London use no more water than domestic houses. LHR 21 uses the same water quantity as five semi-detached houses in the local area – no more than a normal office block," Richard said. 

The facility also uses free cooling techniques to improve efficiency. In doing so, the site takes advantage of lower external temperatures, reducing reliance on compressor-based cooling systems and refrigerant gases.

“We use as much free air as we possibly can through that chilled water circuit to lower our PUE.

“By the time we get down to 6°C external temperature, we're not using any compressors at all – no refrigerant gas, just free cooling, just fans pulling air over the coils.”

Beyond cooling efficiency, Vantage is also exploring heat reuse.

Richard said: “We have a district heating scheme that we've started within LHR 21, which we're plugging into the local authority's district heating scheme.”

The system enables heat generated by the facility to support wider community energy needs, as data centre operators consider benefits for local residents at a time of increased criticism.