Ark Data Centres' Campus Extension Approved by Local Authorities in Wiltshire, UK

Why It Matters

The approval expands UK data‑centre capacity, supporting government cloud initiatives and growing digital demand, while highlighting the clash between infrastructure growth and community environmental concerns.

Key Takeaways

• Conditional approval after 18‑month planning delay.
• New 27,350 sqm centre adds seventh Corsham site.
• Flood risk and residential proximity spark resident opposition.
• Over 1,100 public comments, majority against proposal.
• Ark may consider relocating if further obstacles arise.

Pulse Analysis

The UK’s data‑centre market is entering a period of accelerated growth, driven by rising cloud adoption, AI workloads, and government digital transformation. Ark Data Centres, a key player with 27 facilities across the UK and Belgium, is capitalising on this trend by expanding its Corsham campus, a strategic hub that already hosts multiple high‑density sites. Adding a 27,350 sqm, 18‑meter‑tall building not only boosts Ark’s total capacity in the region but also reinforces the country’s resilience against global bandwidth pressures, positioning the site as a critical node for both private enterprises and public‑sector workloads.

However, the project’s approval came amid intense local scrutiny. Residents raised alarms about the site’s floodplain status and its adjacency to the Wadswick Green retirement community, generating over 1,100 comments—most of which opposed the development. Wiltshire Council responded by attaching conditional safeguards, reflecting a broader regulatory shift that demands rigorous environmental assessments for large‑scale digital infrastructure. This tension underscores the need for data‑centre operators to integrate robust risk‑mitigation and community‑engagement strategies early in the planning cycle, lest they face costly delays or reputational setbacks.

The outcome carries implications for the wider industry. Investors watch Ark’s next steps closely; the company’s willingness to relocate if obstacles persist signals a market where site flexibility can be a competitive advantage. Moreover, the approval sets a precedent for future projects, suggesting that while UK authorities are open to expanding digital capacity, they will enforce stricter environmental and social criteria. Stakeholders—from cloud providers to municipal planners—must balance the imperative for rapid infrastructure scaling with sustainable development practices to ensure long‑term viability.

Ark Data Centres' campus extension approved by local authorities in Wiltshire, UK

Finally gets the go-ahead after 18 months · February 10 2026 · Jason Ma

A controversial proposal to expand a data‑center campus operated by Ark Data Centres in Wiltshire, UK, has been given conditional approval by local authorities today despite concerns about potential flooding.

These concerns, which were raised by local residents by way of a rebuttal, led Wiltshire Council to postpone its decision to today (February 10) after it assessed that there was inadequate time to evaluate the lengthy and technical document during its meeting last December.

– Ark Data Centres/Savills

This means that Ark will be able to construct an 18‑meter‑tall, 27,350 sqm (294,000 sq ft) data centre on a land parcel in the town of Corsham at Westwell Roads, subject to several conditions about the project’s development.

The additional data centre will be adjacent to Ark’s existing campus at Spring Park, which is situated adjacent to Wadswick Green, a retirement village.

Ark already operates five data centres at Spring Park. A sixth was approved in May 2024. The planning application for this latest proposed extension would bring the total number to seven and was submitted in June 2024.

The company has been irked by delays that they perceive as an unnecessary prolongation of a lengthy 18‑month process, and senior executives have publicly stated that Ark could take its business elsewhere.

“We do have a choice as to where we invest, and we can do so in other localities in the UK and overseas, with sites in London, Brussels, and Barcelona. But we fundamentally believe it's important to continue to grow our investment in Corsham,” said Rob Sylvester, chief revenue officer, Ark.

But residents are adamant that the potential flood risk, the proposed data centre’s proximity to Wadswick Green and other residential properties, and the impact on the local environment weigh against the location’s suitability as a data‑centre site.

At the time of writing, more than 1,100 comments have been left on the planning application’s website, most of which oppose the proposal.

Founded in 2005, Ark has 27 data centres across nine sites in operation or development across the UK and Belgium, totaling more than 560 MW. It operates data‑centre campuses at Cody Park in Farnborough, Meridian Park in north London, and Spring Park in Wiltshire’s Corsham, with a number of projects under development, including Union Park and Alliance Park in west London.

Controlled by Elliott Investment Management with Revcap as a minority investor, Ark serves a number of UK government departments and agencies, and also has a joint venture with the Cabinet Office called Crown Hosting to provide colocation services to public‑sector bodies and government departments.