Ealing Council has given planning consent for a large data centre on the former Honey Monster factory site on Bridge Road, Southall, and will receive a seven‑figure payment from the developer. The council says the scheme will not rely on existing local grid capacity and that part of the building’s energy needs will be met by an extensive solar façade.
Money, energy and the planning context
The decision, taken on a Thursday shortly before new draft guidance on data centres was published as part of the London Plan, means the council will receive approximately £17.7 million from the developer. The authority stressed the application was decided against the policies in force at the time.
Council officers and the developer have flagged that some of the site’s electricity will be supplied from outside the existing local network, and upgrades will be subject to agreement with infrastructure providers. A distinctive feature of the scheme is a 7,000‑square‑metre photovoltaic façade on the building’s southern elevation, which is intended to reduce on‑site demand and will change appearance with the sunlight.
“Electricity capacity is a recognised issue across west London and was considered through the planning process,”
The council’s statement noted that applicants must demonstrate the necessary utility infrastructure can be provided and that any required upgrades lie with the infrastructure providers and developers to secure.
Local concerns and wider implications
Across west London, the rapid rise in data centres has prompted concerns about environmental effects, water use and pressure on the electricity network. In some parts of west London, housing projects have reportedly been delayed because of limited grid capacity — a point acknowledged by the council when assessing the Southall application.
Residents in Southall and neighbouring areas will want clarity on a few practical points as the project progresses:
- How much of the centre’s electricity will be supplied via the photovoltaic façade and how much will be supplied from off‑grid arrangements;
- Whether any grid upgrades will affect local development timelines or result in disruption; and
- What environmental safeguards and water‑use measures the developer will commit to in planning conditions.
What happens next
Because the London Plan draft guidance was published after this decision, the council says the application was judged under the policies that applied at the time. Developers seeking to build major electrical users across the capital will increasingly be required to show how they tie into wider planning objectives for housing, utilities and environmental protection, the authority added.
Local people can expect further detail as planning conditions are finalised and as the developer makes arrangements with utility companies. The council’s confirmation that electricity capacity for the scheme will not come from the existing local grid is intended to reassure residents, but precise delivery plans and any associated works will be matters to watch in coming months.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Former Honey Monster Food Factory, Bridge Road, Southall |
| Council payment | £17.7 million (approx.) |
| Solar façade | 7,000 sq m photovoltaic southern elevation |
Further announcements are likely as the developer secures utility agreements and discharges planning conditions. For now, the decision marks a significant commercial development for Southall and adds to the ongoing debate about where and how data centres should be built in London.
