FAQs

The data centre is being designed to support the everyday digital services that people, businesses and public services rely on. This includes things like online banking, streaming, video calls, business systems, healthcare records and the storage of photos and emails.

All potential environmental impacts of the proposals are being assessed as part of the outline planning application.

• A modern data centre like Charlton Gateway would be considerably quieter than an alternative industrial use on the site. We would limit sound from the data centre through acoustic screening and landscaping between the building and neighbouring properties.
• The data centre would be powered by additional capacity created through a new power connection. It would not be drawn from the existing local power supply.
• The data centre would incorporate a ‘closed loop system’, meaning that water is continuously reused. Very little water consumption is required once the development is operational.

The plans will be subject to rigorous ongoing reporting to minimise impact on the local area.

To deliver the cloud capacity required in the UK, data centres do need to be buildings of scale.

The data centre building within the illustrative scheme would extend to approximately 30m from its ground floor level, with up to approximately 7 metres of additional plant space on the roof. This plant space is likely to be placed near the middle of the building’s roof and would be less visible from ground level. The height of the data centre would be similar to the height of the neighbouring Hyde residential scheme.

Using the AOD (Above Ordnance Datum, i.e. the standard zero reference point tied to mean sea level) measurements, the data centre extends to 45m total including plant space on the roof. Ancillary development includes an office building up to 32m AOD, a SME building up to 22m AOD, a sub-station building up to 23m AOD, and associated plant structures, and generator building up to 35m AOD. The retained Stone Foundries building, with a maximum height of up to 17m AOD, is located on the east of the site. These are maximum parameter heights measured against AOD, not the illustrative scheme heights which will also be shown as part of the planning application. In practice the buildings will appear shorter than the AOD figures, given this is measured from sea level rather than ground level.

The outline planning application will include precise measurements following final design work. Further refinement of the design and engagement with operators may also result in smaller buildings.

If approved, a data centre would create the essential infrastructure to support more housing in the area. Our development would help deliver a new connection along Herringham Road to the north of the site, making new housing more viable while supporting the council’s ambitions for jobs and employment.

Initial public consultation ran between 28 November and 21 December 2025, including a mailout to local addresses, a consultation website and doorknocking in Derrick and Atlas Gardens. The project team continued to meet community groups after the consultation period.

We are holding a further public consultation on the plans from Tuesday 6 October to Tuesday 20 October.

This is an opportunity for the local community to provide feedback on the plans and share ideas for improvements you would like us to make across the local area.

We recognise the strong feeling among some residents about the plans. We want to keep working with the community on the building’s design and to make sure the community is fully aware of the benefits of this investment in the local area.

Please email our project inbox (info@glicharltonriverside.co.uk) if you have any queries or would like to arrange a discussion.