Data Centres

Powering the Digital & Green Economy

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure is accelerating demand for data centre development across the UK. As developers, investors, operators and energy companies seek to bring forward new facilities, they face increasingly complex planning, land, grid, regulatory, financing and operational challenges.

The data centre market demands advisers who understand the intersection of energy, infrastructure, technology and real estate. We have sector specific experience of the approach to addressing interactions between data centre projects and associated connections to power, cooling water and fibre infrastructure. Our clients benefit from a genuinely multidisciplinary team that combines deep sector knowledge with practical experience across the assets, investments and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of digital infrastructure.  

Whether supporting a renewable energy developer exploring co-location opportunities, an investor acquiring digital infrastructure assets, a technology business expanding capacity or a developer bringing forward a new facility, we provide pragmatic advice that reflects the realities of an increasingly integrated digital and energy economy.

Our Experience Across the Data Centre Lifecycle

We support clients across the data centre ecosystem, including developers, investors, renewable energy companies, technology businesses, occupiers, funders, infrastructure providers and public sector organisations.

Our multi-disciplinary team advises throughout the data centre lifecycle; from site selection and acquisition through planning, power and grid strategy, project delivery, investment, operation and future expansion.

• Energy & Grid: Our Future Energy team advises on all aspects of power supply arrangements for data centre developments. This includes grid connection arrangements to facilitate grid supply from transmission and distribution networks, private wire and behind-the-meter arrangements, as well as grid sharing and co-location opportunities. We are particularly well placed to support clients navigate to the regulatory frameworks and licensing regimes governing energy supplies to data centre developments.
• Real Estate & Development: From site identification and acquisition through to complex development and operational occupation arrangements, our real estate team advises on site assembly, options,  agreements for lease, easements, access arrangements and long-term development structures. We have particular experience supporting projectsarising from both traditional real estate opportunities and energy-sector opportunities.
• Planning & Consenting: We advise on planning strategy, application of planning policy, nationally significant infrastructure projects (including data centres combined with electricity generation), promotion of development consent orders (DCOs), Section 35 applications, town and country planning (TCPA) applications and wider planning considerations associated with major data centre developments, including the re-purposing of B8 business park permissions. We also advised on the environmental permitting strategy for data centre developments and associated infrastructure. Our experience spans greenfield developments, industrial site redevelopment and strategic infrastructure projects
• Project, Construction and Infrastructure: We support clients across the construction lifecycle from procurement strategy and contract structuring through to project delivery, commissioning and operation. We advise on EPC and construction contracts, consultant appointments, O&M arrangements, project risk management and dispute resolution. 
• Corporate & Investment: The data centre sector continues to attract significant interest and investment from infrastructure funds, institutional investors and private capital. We advise on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, investments, financing arrangements and portfolio transactions involving digital infrastructure assets. 
• Technology, Digital & Commercial: Data centres sit at the heart of the digital economy. Our technology and commercial lawyers advise on operational contracts, technology procurement, AI infrastructure, data-driven services, digital transformation projects and commercial arrangements supporting the deployment and operation of data centre facilities. 

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