Poplar Data Centre (Current ongoing project)
The site is located within Poplar Business Park, in London. It’s a mixed use
development comprising residential, workspace and light industrial (B1 & B2)
uses. It is in the south-western corner of the site and the data centre node is within Block A in light industrial floorspace.
The external generators are proposed on land that is currently vacant. Aspen Way and the Docklands Light railway are to the south. It is not located within a Conservation Area and does not include any statutory Listed Buildings. By their very nature, data centres use large mechanical and electrical infrastructure that can be maintained either on or off the national grid and use multiple fibre providers that offer diverse and sustainable connectivity to all networks worldwide. It is essential that the power supply is maintained and resilient in the event of a grid power failure. Consequently, data centres have on-site generator compounds which will start immediately in the event of a power cut. This infrastructure is fully enclosed within the building with appropriate sound attenuation.
Ventilation and the nature of the building’s use and operation means that there is a low level of on-site employment. This is generally IT maintenance engineers and security operating on a shift basis, therefore they use does not generate large vehicular movements.
