Two-storey data centre at 1 And 2 St Annes Boulevard, Redhill

“This is a full application for the demolition of units 1 and 2 and construction of a single two-storey data centre building featuring three built elements accommodating four symmetrical Data Halls (each with an IT capacity of 3.6 MW), two on each floor, with an office block sited between the two data hall wings. The office block will consolidate reception, security, control rooms and support areas for the wider campus hub.”

“The generators would be sited externally and to the rear of the building at ground floor level. Above which and located on the gantry would be up to 13 LV Pods for electrical distribution to the data halls. Mechanical plant will be located at roof level to all 3 blocks. Rooftop plant would comprise 12 air cooled chillers set back from the principal façade and surrounded in an acoustically treated open top enclosure.”

“The wider site occupies an area of approximately 3.1 hectares and comprises a set of three separate buildings (Units 1 to 3) with associated plant and parking located, occupied by Redhill Data Centres, at Foxboro Business Park in Redhill. Units 1 to 3 consist of single storey industrial warehouses with two storey office buildings adjoining at the front of each unit.”

“Holmethorpe Industrial Estate is located to the north and east of the Site. To the east and west is a railway embankment with mainline connection to Central London. The Greenbelt is located on the opposite side of the railway embankment to the east, which includes a set of lagoons and marshes of the Holmethorpe Sandpits Complex Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). The Patteson Court Landfill Site is located to the southeast within the greenbelt and SNCI.”

“Granted May 2012 3.3 12/01392/F Electricity power infrastructure upgrade including installation of a high voltage substation, low voltage substation, 4 no generators for backup power only with associated fuel tank, 4 no containerised uninterrupted power supply units and 2 no containerised electric cabinets along with associated profiled sheet enclosure, within the external service area ancillary to unit 1, St Anne's Boulevard, Redhill.”

“Approved 07/08/2000 3.6 09/00766/F Conversion of warehouse and office for data centre use and associated works (within Use Classes B1 and Granted August 2009”

“The proposal to rebuild and upgrade the existing data centres at unit 1 and unit 2 with one two-storey data centre complies with EMP1: Principal Employment Areas because it constitutes the development of upgraded floorspace within an established employment use. Both units already hold lawful planning permission for data centre use. Unit 1 was approved under application 07/00181/F, which permitted an extension to the existing facility.”

“DMP Policy EMP1 states that ‘planning permission will be granted... for the development of new, upgraded or extended floorspace’ within principal employment areas, including uses such as offices, industrial, and storage and distribution. The data centre represents an existing lawful employment use within a designated employment area.”

“Issue Response Inadequate parking See paragraph 6.39 No need for the development See paragraph 6.4 Inconvenience during construction See paragraphs 6.59-6.64 Out of character with surrounding area See paragraphs 4.7 and 6.10 Overdevelopment See paragraph 6.11 Noise & disturbance See paragraphs 6.21-6.24 Hazard to highway safety See paragraph 6.39 Overlooking and loss of privacy See paragraph 6.20 Overshadowing See paragraph 6.19 Health fears See paragraph 6.29 Flooding See…”

“This is not a material planning consideration. Support - Community/regeneration benefit This is noted. Support - Economic growth / jobs…”

“Councillor Essex, a visiting member, stated that he had concerns relating to construction traffic, visual impact, district heating opportunities, and energy demand associated with the proposed development.”

“Concerns were raised about construction vehicle access, with a preference for routing all traffic through the Holmethorpe Industrial Estate to minimise disruption to residents. Clarification was sought on the true height of the proposed building, including roof plant, and whether the visual impact assessment had fully accounted for the increased massing, particularly for residents in nearby upper-floor flats.”

“RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions as per the recommendation and addendum with amendment to conditions 14 and 25.”

“Condition 25 - No development shall be commenced until a feasibility study for the export of excess heat from the data centre hereby permitted to the adjacent Park 25 heat network has been undertaken and submitted to the local planning authority for approval.”