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A commitment to Green Belt
Havering Council is committing to the Green Belt amid plans to develop a new data centre. There are proposals to build Europe’s biggest facility in East Havering. The project would create a 500-acre site with developer Digital Reef erecting 15 warehouse-size data storage buildings. There would also be a new “ecology park” outside the M25 east of Cranham and Upminster.
The council described this data centre as being a £5.3b inward investment. It is one that would create 1,200 local jobs, in addition to bringing in around £13.5m in income over four years.
Digital Reef and the council will need to meet a certain requirement here though. They must prove there are extremely special circumstances to justify construction on legally protected land.
Cllr Graham Williamson said that the centre would attract high tech businesses and jobs to their borough. He also claims that once the centre was finished, the council’s income would be transformed. There would be an extra £12m in business rates. If the centre becomes part of a new Thames-area investment zone, it could be up to £40m.
As for the environmental benefits, they include 300 acres of private farmland becoming a public park. It would have a mix of biodiverse woodland, wetland, and grassland, so it would be wonderful for the area.
Cllr Ray Morgan, the council leader, confirmed that the council submitted an expression of interest. This was for the borough to be inside one of the government’s new low-tax investment zones. It would also include the existing Thames Freeport. According to figures in the report, if this were to happen, the council would be able to retain 100% of those business rates the site collects.
This project could be huge for the area. As one of the top providers of help with investment properties Havering has, we can see the advantages, especially new job creation. That could increase demand for homes in the area, including rental properties.
Digital Reef’s premium
Another fact is that Digital Reef is offering a £9m premium if construction begins by 2024. The council believes this will probably only be possible by doing one thing. They will need to speed up the planning procedure using a Local Development Order (LDO). This will require approval from a senior government minister.
According to a presentation given by Digital Reef, the centre’s size would amplify London’s data capacity by 50%. Moreover, its location is near an electricity substation. It is one that can provide the 600 megawatts (MW) necessary.
The plans here do suggest that the centre would aspire to be carbon neutral. To achieve this though, they would need to offset the energy use against the park’s ecological advantages. It is the same for the potential use of renewable energy.
There is also a paper modelling of the proposal’s financial benefits. It estimates that inside Havering, the centre would create £65m in wages and support 1,200 jobs.
The University of Leicester’s agreement
The council report also claims that The University of Leicester has entered an agreement. This is to establish an Earth & Sustainability Institute. Its purpose would be to track land use to enhance the planet’s sustainability. Something else the university would do is research interior “vertical farming” on-site. To do that, they would use the waste heat from the data centre to grow food.
Another statement was made to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In it, Cllr Damian White, Conservative group leader, said these proposals represent major opportunities. At the same time, he questions if the council’s leadership is entirely for safeguarding the Green Belt. He asks how residents all across Havering are going to take advantage of the loss of 100s of acres of land. This should form part of a larger debate on the forthcoming update of the local plan. The Cllr thinks that rushing ahead whilst neglecting to open a public enquiry would be the wrong approach. They cannot achieve such a development this way.
Addressing these concerns, Cllr Morgion said that this was to return the land to public usage, which isn’t presently accessible. He said the administration hasn’t had a change in attitude, and that these were exceptional circumstances. They are going to use the land’s benefits without any loss.
Start looking at investment properties in Havering with us
At Finefair Ltd, our expertise proves invaluable to every client that is looking at property investment. With our guidance, it is easier for you to make the right choice. In addition, we have a pre-auction service. It offers peace of mind before you even buy anything. Then if you choose guaranteed rent with us you will get a safe, secure income for as long as ten years. Our service takes the risk away from investing.
So, if you would like to work with the top company excelling in investment properties Havering has, contact us. We would be happy to help.