An industrial and data center campus has been proposed at the former Fawley Power Station site near Southampton, UK. Developer Fawley Waterside Limited plans to transform the site into a mixed-use industrial and commercial campus, with potential data center developments. The project would provide 143,000 sqm (1.539m sq ft) of floor space, down from the originally proposed 190,000 sqm (2.045m sq ft), following local consultation. It will include energy, digital, maritime, commercial, and startup facilities.
Plans were first submitted in June, with an updated masterplan released after local consultation. Construction could begin in winter 2028. The developers said the “digital industries” component could include data centers, AI, advanced computing, software, and cybersecurity. Details on the number or size of data centers have not been disclosed, although plans show three large buildings and several smaller ones. National Grid is preparing an Ofgem submission seeking approval to upgrade the site’s existing substation.
The 2GW Fawley Power Station was an oil-fired plant on the western shore of Southampton Water in Hampshire. One of the “Hinton Heavies,” it began operating in 1971 and was decommissioned by RWE in 2013.
Plans to redevelop the site as Fawley Waterside, a new town with 1,500 homes, were announced in 2017. The £1bn ($1.3bn) project was shelved in 2024 after developers said it was not financially viable.
