A huge new data centre the size of six football pitches can be built at Thorney Business Park after two councils gave it the go-ahead.

Property developer Segro plans to build the data centre at Thorney Business Park between Slough and Hayes in west London. It says the data centre will take up floorspace of 27,304 square metres, and be 25 metres high including rooftop machinery.

Plans say the data centre building will house offices, equipment, emergency backup generators and fuel storage. The site also includes an emergency access road, associated engineering works and parking.

Segro had to apply for planning permission from Buckinghamshire County Council and Slough Borough Council as the site spans their boundaries.

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It was awarded approval for ‘outline’ plans for most of the development by Buckinghamshire County Council in May. This means it will need to submit further applications to get approval for more detailed ‘reserved matters’ plans.

It also had to apply to Slough Borough Council for planning permission for an emergency access road to Hollow Hill Lane. The council approved this on Wednesday, July 3.

A planning statement submitted to Buckinghamshire County Council said that despite its height the building would be ‘stepped’ on its southern and eastern edges. It also said the office area of the building would be glazed ‘creating visual interest on entering the site'.