Data Centre Plans Threaten New Berkshire Hospital

Plans for a 72MW data centre at Thames Valley Park could delay the long-awaited new Royal Berkshire Hospital, Wokingham MP Clive Jones has warned.

Mr Jones has raised concerns about redeveloping part of the former Microsoft campus into a data centre and says any impact on future hospital plans must be considered before a decision is made.

"People across Berkshire need a new Royal Berkshire Hospital, and they have waited long enough," he said. "Thames Valley Park is one of the potential sites. Nothing built there should raise any doubt about a secure, reliable power supply that could cause further delays in delivering the new hospital."

The scheme would replace three former Microsoft office buildings. Planning documents say the facility would initially rely on gas-powered fuel cells because there is currently insufficient National Grid capacity to power the site.

The Liberal Democrats have also warned the development could limit other future uses for the business park.

Stephen Conway, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: "We want Thames Valley Park to thrive, and data centres are part of a modern economy." "But a development of this scale must fit with our climate commitments and the bigger picture for the site." "As we begin work on our next Local Plan, with the borough's housing target almost doubling, brownfield sites like Thames Valley Park could take high-density homes and ease pressure on our countryside. This development mustn't close off that opportunity."

Councillor Lou Timlin warned the fuel-cell reliance could make the data centre one of the borough's largest sources of carbon emissions. Lib Dems want greater community benefits, including using waste heat from the site in local heat networks.

Mike Giles, the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Earley and Woodley, said the development offered "very little benefit" to local residents. "The developers need to go back to the drawing board to ensure it delivers for local residents," he said.

A spokesman for the Thames Valley Park Data Centre project said the scheme would provide a "viable long-term future" for the business park, creating hundreds of construction and regional jobs and around 65 permanent roles. He said the company was exploring opportunities to use waste heat in local heat networks and that gas-powered fuel cells would be used only while permanent grid connections were put in place. The spokesman added the site is designated for employment uses and developers would continue engaging with councils, residents and other stakeholders as the application progresses.

Residents can comment on the plans through Wokingham Borough Council's planning portal using reference 262274 until October 29.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter