Pranav Hotkar
LONDON, United Kingdom - June 30, 2026 - VIRTUS Data Centres is expanding its presence in the UK's largest data center market with the addition of a new 32.5 MW facility at the Slough Trading Estate, reinforcing the company's strategy to increase AI-ready capacity as cloud providers and enterprises continue to scale digital infrastructure across the region.
The new facility, LONDON19, will add 32.5 MW of IT load to VIRTUS' growing campus in Slough, one of Europe's most established data center hubs. Designed to support hyperscale cloud, artificial intelligence, and enterprise workloads, the development will further increase the company's UK portfolio, which now exceeds 300 MW of operational and committed capacity.
The project arrives as demand for high-density computing infrastructure continues to outpace supply in the London market. AI deployments are driving higher rack densities and greater power requirements, prompting operators to expand in locations where power availability, fiber connectivity, and planning certainty remain competitive advantages.
VIRTUS said LONDON19 has been designed with both scalability and sustainability in mind. The facility will incorporate advanced cooling technologies capable of supporting next-generation AI workloads, while sustainable construction materials will be used throughout the build. The design also includes infrastructure that could enable waste heat generated by the data center to be exported for future community use, reflecting a growing industry focus on improving energy efficiency beyond the facility itself.
Planning permission for the project has already been secured through the Slough Trading Estate Simplified Planning Zone, allowing development to move forward quickly. Property developer SEGRO will construct the powered shell, with work expected to begin following final design approval. The facility is also targeting a BREEAM "Excellent" sustainability certification.
The expansion extends VIRTUS' long-standing partnership with SEGRO, whose Slough Trading Estate has served as one of the UK's primary data center locations for more than two decades. The estate's established power infrastructure, network connectivity, and streamlined planning framework have made it a preferred destination for hyperscale and colocation operators despite increasing land and power constraints across the London metropolitan area.
Adam Eaton, chief executive officer of VIRTUS Data Centres, said the project strengthens the company's ability to deliver scalable, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure while embedding environmental considerations from the earliest stages of development. SEGRO's managing director for data centers and strategic partnerships, Andrew Pilsworth, added that the expansion demonstrates the continued attractiveness of the Slough Trading Estate for operators seeking growth in an increasingly capacity-constrained market.
The announcement reflects broader investment across the UK data center sector, where operators are racing to deliver AI-ready facilities equipped with liquid-cooling support, higher power densities, and improved sustainability features. As generative AI adoption accelerates, developments such as LONDON19 are expected to play an important role in expanding the infrastructure needed to support future cloud and AI workloads while maintaining environmental performance and long-term operational resilience.
