According to authentic published documents, the Swindon Borough Council has approved Amazon Web Services’ application to build a data center on a site that Hewlett-Packard (HP) used to occupy. The application was lodged in April 2021. It shows that a new 27MW four-hall facility will be built on the site in Brimble Hill. This site used to be the location of the former Burderop Hospital before HP started using it for its data centers from the 1990s until 2020.
The council noted that the application was considered under the National Planning Policy Framework. Notably, it considered that the data center would be in an area of natural beauty next to a site of special scientific interest. It further added that the considerations were met since the project favors the public and replaces an existing structure.
This proposed facility would have a direct connection to the National grid. It would also have 11 diesel backup generators and a tank to hold 40,000 liters of diesel. The planning permission will last for three months. AWS must also submit noise control measurements within three months of operation to ensure that it isn’t causing a noise nuisance.
