PLANS for a huge data centre at Slough Trading Estate have been given unanimous backing by councillors.
The historic trading estate, which is solely owned by Segro, is set to see another data centre, which is proposed to be five-storeys in height, that will have an internal floorspace that’s over 15,000 square metres.
Applicant Equinix also proposed office space, 13 diesel backup generators, a new substation, a service yard, a loading bay, 39 car parking spaces, 32 cycle parking spaces, vehicular and pedestrian access from Banbury Avenue and Dundee Road, and soft landscaping.
READ MORE: Slough Trading Estate could see another data centre built
This will involve demolishing the existing and largely vacant industrial building, which employed 127 people, on Banbury Avenue.
The five-storey data centre will only employ 35 people, but Equinix pledged £126,540 towards local employment training and business promotion and a further £3,000 travel plan monitoring fee.
Slough Borough councillors sitting on the planning committee unanimously decided to delegate the plans to the head of planning for approval subject to the applicant signing off the financial agreement and to conditions.
Cllr Pavitar Kaur Mann (Lab: Britwell & Northborough), lead member for planning, said the data centre is a “significant building” and will have a “significant visual impact” on nearby residents but believed the design is of “high quality”.
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Cllr Mann called for the construction management plan to consider the safety of parents walking their children to a nearby trampoline park while committee chairman Martin Carter (Lab: Britwell & Northborough) asked if the 7am to 11pm timeframe of the diesel generators test could be reduced or if there can be clear logging to curb noise complaints.
Planning officers said they will incorporate those concerns in the respective plans and conditions.
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