GLi Files $1.4B 180MW Data Centre Plans in Charlton Greenwich 2026

Key Points

• Major Development Filed: Plans have been formally submitted to the Royal Borough of Greenwich for a massive 100,000 square metre gross external area (GEA) data centre facility alongside mixed-use space.
• High Capacity and Investment: The proposed 6.9-hectare data centre site is slated to deliver up to 180 Megawatts (MW) of critical digital infrastructure, representing an estimated $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) investment.
• Strategic Location: The overall project footprint spans 122 hectares in Charlton, East London, incorporating the former Stone Foundries site at 669A Woolwich Road and the adjacent VIP Industrial Estate.
• Scoping Opinion Requested: Developers have requested an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion from local council planners to clarify assessment requirements before submitting full detailed planning applications.
• Developer Consortium: The project, named “Charlton Gateway,” is being spearheaded by Greater London Industrial (GLi), a joint venture between real asset manager Patrizia and property developer Kingston Space Property (KSP).
• Heritage Impact: The proposals involve the demolition of historic industrial structures, including two buildings on Greenwich’s local heritage list from the former Stone Foundries site, which operated in the area for nearly two centuries.
• Project Timeline: Subject to approvals, construction work is targeted to commence around 2027 or 2028, with full completion anticipated between 2028 and 2029.

London, UK (East London Times) August 19, 2026 — Proposals for a massive 180MW data centre development in East London have formally entered the planning system, marking one of the largest technology infrastructure proposals for the capital in recent years. As detailed in initial planning filings submitted to the Royal Borough of Greenwich and originally revealed by local news outlet The Greenwich Wire, developer Greater London Industrial (GLi) is seeking a planning scoping opinion for a major masterplan spanning 122 hectares off Woolwich Road in Charlton. The project incorporates a 100,000 square metre (GEA) data centre facility alongside 10,000 square metres of mixed-use business and community space, representing a projected $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) private investment into London’s digital backbone.

What Do the Planning Documents Reveal About the Scale and Design?

As reported by The Greenwich Wire, the development is situated on a 6.9-hectare portion of the broader masterplan boundary, taking over the former Stone Foundries premises at 669A Woolwich Road as well as the neighbouring VIP Industrial Estate. The data facility itself is proposed to cover 70,325 square metres of footprint.

Writing for the local development publication From the Murky Depths, reporter J Smith highlighted that project documents specify the building would rise to a height of 30 metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), with plant equipment extending a further 15 metres to reach an overall height profile of 45 metres AOD.

According to official project submission files authored by planning consultancy Arup on behalf of GLi, the site offers an exceptional development opportunity. The applicant stated in planning documents that:

“The site presents a rare opportunity in that it possesses all the attributes necessary to develop a data center within the next few years in terms of its scale, location, and availability, including a confirmed power connection, high-speed fiber infrastructure and proximity to financial markets.”

Developers GLi—a joint venture formed by global real assets investment manager Patrizia and UK property firm Kingston Space Property (KSP)—have designated the project “Charlton Gateway”. A public consultation exercise regarding the masterplan took place between November and December 2025, though details of the scheme have only recently emerged within municipal planning registers.

How Will the Proposal Address Infrastructure, Power, and Sustainability?

According to details published on GLi’s official project consultation portal, the Charlton Gateway facility has been designed to minimise local environmental impacts while integrating into the area’s power network. The developers state that the data centre will operate using a closed-loop “dry” cooling process. Rather than continuously consuming fresh water, the cooling infrastructure will recirculate a fixed volume of water to eliminate strain on local municipal water supplies.

To support the 180MW power demand, the site will feature a dedicated electrical substation and back-up diesel generators for emergency power. GLi noted in project materials that emergency generation would only run during rare national grid outages. Additionally, GLi stated that it is investigating the creation of a local, low-carbon district heat network that could capture waste heat generated by the servers and export it to warm surrounding commercial and residential property developments.

What Impact Will the Scheme Have on Heritage and Housing Plans?

As observed by The Greenwich Wire, the site carries substantial industrial heritage. The plot encompasses the historical home of Stone Foundries, an engineering and casting manufacturer that operated in Charlton for nearly 190 years before selling the property in 2019 and relocating. Three existing structures on the site are currently listed on the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s local heritage register. Under the proposed masterplan, two of these historic buildings would be demolished, while elements of a hidden, historical narrow-gauge railway on the site would be preserved.

The submission also represents a dramatic shift in direction for the land. Developer Montreaux acquired the site in 2019 with ambitions to construct up to 1,500 residential homes. A subsequent proposal by developers Rockwell and Zenprop for 771 homes on the plot was rejected by Greenwich Council in 2018, turned down by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in 2019, and formally dismissed on appeal by then-Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick in 2020. Following the sale of the land to Falconbrook in 2022, GLi acquired the holding and successfully secured consent for an industrial warehouse on part of the plot prior to filing the current 180MW data centre masterplan.

If the current Environmental Impact Assessment scoping process progresses smoothly, GLi aims to submit full planning applications, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027 or 2028 and primary operations commencing as early as 2028 or 2029.

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Background of the Charlton Riverside Development

The land targeted for the Charlton Gateway data centre sits within the Charlton Riverside Opportunity Area, an expansive 100-plus hectare industrial belt running along the south bank of the River Thames between the Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich. For decades, the area served as one of South East London’s major manufacturing and heavy industrial hubs, anchored by long-standing employers like Stone Foundries, Siemens, and various logistics operations.

In 2012, the Royal Borough of Greenwich published the Charlton Riverside Masterplan (updated in 2017), outlining a long-term vision to transform the low-density industrial strip into a modern, mixed-use urban neighbourhood featuring up to 8,000 new homes, public open spaces, and modern commercial premises. However, delivery of this vision has faced notable friction. Complex multi-landowner boundaries, heavy decontamination requirements, high infrastructure costs, and multiple high-profile planning rejections—such as the repeated refusal of residential schemes on the Stone Foundries site—have slowed residential regeneration across the zone.

In response to the UK government designating data centres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in late 2024, alongside updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidelines directing local authorities to prioritize digital infrastructure needs, industrial landowners in East London have increasingly turned away from difficult residential proposals in favour of high-capacity logistics and tech-infrastructure assets.

How This Development Could Affect Local Residents, Businesses, and the UK Tech Sector

For Local Residents and the Greenwich Community:

The immediate neighbourhood surrounding Anchor & Hope Lane, Atlas Gardens, and Derrick Gardens will see a notable shift in their local urban environment. The transition from general industrial and transport uses to a data centre will permanently alter the physical landscape, replacing older foundries and commercial sheds with modern structures up to 45 metres AOD. On a practical level, operational data centres generate substantially lower daily vehicular traffic compared to active trading estates or high-density housing developments, which could lead to reduced heavy goods vehicle (HGV) congestion on Woolwich Road. Furthermore, if GLi delivers on its proposed district heat network, neighboring households and civic buildings could eventually gain access to lower-cost, excess thermal energy from the facility’s servers. However, local conservationists and community groups may raise concerns regarding the loss of locally listed heritage buildings.

For Local Employment and Businesses:

While the construction phase between 2027 and 2029 will generate a temporary surge in civil engineering and building jobs, operational data centres typically employ fewer permanent, on-site personnel than equivalent square-footage of traditional retail, light industrial, or office sites. To balance this, the inclusion of up to 10,000 square metres of dedicated flexible business and community space aims to retain room for small enterprises and light industry within Charlton.

For the UK Technology Infrastructure Sector:

For the broader UK technology and financial landscape, an additional 180MW of capacity in East London represents a significant boost. With data demand accelerating due to cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads, London faces a tight supply of power-secured data facility space. The Charlton Gateway’s proximity to the City of London and Canary Wharf financial districts, combined with secured grid connections, provides vital digital capacity to help address the national digital infrastructure deficit.