UK approves Dartford 300MW data center campus

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has directed that a proposed AI data center campus near New Barn Road, Dartford, be treated as development requiring development consent under the Planning Act 2008.

• The direction follows requests sent by Burges Salmon on behalf of CSE52 Limited on 1 May 2026 and 3 June 2026 under section 35(1) of the Planning Act.
• The proposed project is described as an AI data center campus of up to four data center buildings, with up to 300MW total power load and up to 240MW IT load, plus associated energy, utility and infrastructure works.
• The Secretary of State said the project is nationally significant because of its likely economic impact, role in driving growth, impact beyond a single local authority area, and its substantial physical size.
• The direction allows any future application to include ancillary matters and associated development under section 120 of the Planning Act.