Data centre colocation outfit Equinix has unveiled plans to turn a tired old paint factory in Slough into a cutting-edge data centre complex.
The blueprints feature a data hall, plush office spaces, and all the behind-the-scenes gubbins needed to keep the digital show on the road.
Equinix is going green in a big way. They’re decking out the new digs with all sorts of eco-friendly kit, from water-saving cooling towers to energy-sipping lights. And they’re not just saving the planet; they’re giving it a makeover, promising to boost the site’s biodiversity by at least 10 per cent with green roofs, native plants, and homes for our feathered and furry friends.
It’s not Equinix’s first rodeo when it comes to being green. Just last year, they pulled the wraps off a rooftop farm in Paris powered by nothing but waste energy.
Equinix is gearing up to clear an 11.5-acre site that’s been gathering cobwebs since 2018. It is waiting to get planning permission to start the transformation, with hopes of getting the green light by 2025 or 2026. If everything goes to plan, the construction crew will arrive in 2027 or 2028.
Equinix isn’t just playing house in Slough; it’s got a sprawling family of 14 data centres across London and another in Manchester. With six sites already in Slough and a seventh on the way, Equinix is putting down roots in a big way.
While Slough is getting a digital facelift, Equinix’s data centres in London are buzzing with activity, hosting the who’s who of internet exchanges and cloud service providers.
With over £1 billion already invested in the UK, Equinix is on a hiring spree, with 1,400 employees and counting. And they’re not just stopping at London and Manchester; they’ve got their sights set on global domination, with new facilities popping up from Malaysia to Australia.
Rumour has it that they’re planning to spend $390 million on data centres in Africa over the next five years.
