Jun 18, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
UK government ministers will decide whether to approve plans for a data center campus at a former quarry in Bedfordshire after the project was designated a development of national significance. Real estate firm Questpit is proposing the Quest Park Data Center campus on a 143-acre site at Ampthill Road in Stewartby, around five miles south of Bedford. The £9.3 billion ($12.3 billion) scheme would include four data center buildings with a total planned IT capacity of 720MW.
In April, Questpit submitted a Development Consent Order (DCO) request to the UK government, shifting decision-making authority from local planners to the Secretary of State at the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government. DCOs are intended to accelerate approvals for major infrastructure projects. The company also asked for the application to be treated as if statutory consultation had already been completed.
In its response, the DHCLG said it was granting the DCO, but that “consultation/engagement equivalent to statutory consultation has not been carried out in respect of the proposed application for planning permission.” It added no evidence had been provided “that any engagement has taken place other than with Central Bedfordshire Council and National Gas.” This means Questpit will need to carry out further consultation on the scheme before a decision is taken.
The proposed data center would be powered by natural gas, with Questpit’s DCO application outlining plans to build an on-site gas generation plant supported by nearby major gas pipelines. The development would also include a STEM training center and office space. The site previously received planning permission in 2023 for a film studio, but that project stalled after Verb Creative Holdings went out of business.
