09 December 2024

Latos Data Centres has launched with plans to develop a data centre in Cardiff, having secured planning permission for its first hyperscale complex project.

The three eight-story Cardiff facilities will deliver a total of 90MVA across 50,400 sqm of floor space. According to planning documents, the land, which totals 16.42 hectares along Rover Way in Tremorfa, was previously used as a non-domestic landfill site, known as the former ‘frag tip’ site. It is currently used as an off-road motorcycle facility managed by Cardiff Council’s Parks Service.

Power will come from the National Grid, supported with a backup feed from the neighbouring 1,000MW Tremorfa Energy Park battery energy storage facility.

Development work on the Latos site in Cardiff is expected to start immediately. Partners in the project are PCG Ltd and TEP Ltd. The company is also working with Create Architecture on the project.

“The growth of AI means the UK’s data centre map needs to change. Organizations will need more computing power closer to where it is needed, and the ability to specify the exact facilities they need. They also need the peace of mind that comes from working with an experienced partner,” said Mike Carlin, founder of Latos Data Centres. “Our team has a deep heritage designing and building complex data facilities. We understand better than anyone how best to deliver the infrastructure UK organizations will need.”

Latos has also secured three other sites – two in the northwest of England and one in the northeast – with a dozen more in negotiation. Privately-held Latos reportedly plans to open 40 purpose-built data centres across the UK by 2030 – a combination of hyperscale and smaller Edge facilities.