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As technology continues to evolve and with significant advancements in AI, the demand for data centres is set to increase at a faster rate than it ever has before. In recognition of this, data centres are now classed as Critical National Infrastructure in the UK and updates in December 2024 to the UK National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) require local policies and decisions to consider the need for data centres and their specific locational requirements.
Bevan Brittan experience
We are renowned for advising on the delivery and operation of a wide variety of innovative and complex data centre projects both in the UK and internationally.
We are extremely active in the sector, advising a range of clients including those who specialise in designing, building and operating enterprise / hyperscale data centres across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. We have a proven track record of supporting data centre developers to successfully deliver on projects with development values ranging from £50m – to over £200m.
We understand that energy strategy (energy source, usage, heat off-take arrangements, energy regulation and grid connection) are a critical aspect of the design and operation of data centre projects. We regularly advise our data centre clients on a range of energy regulation and decarbonisation solutions and utilising renewable and sustainable energy opportunities including solar, battery storage, heat off-take, district heating projects and gas power solutions.
In particular, we offer market leading expertise in the UK district heating network sector, advising on well over 100 schemes in recent years. We are working with both DESNZ and Ofgem to advise on the new regulations for the sector including the delivery of a number of new heat zoning projects.
Given the varying scale and models of delivery in the data centre market, we fully recognise the need for flexible legal resource. We will work closely with you to provide you with an alternative flexible resource to deliver expert services at short notice and at competitive rates.
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How we can help you
As a national law firm of over 400+ multidisciplinary lawyers we are able support data centre clients with a range of specialist resource at all levels to allocate work appropriately.
In particular, we support clients through the various phases of data centre development, including:
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Some examples of our team’s experience are set out below:
Pure DC London
We advised Pure DC on their London 1 and 2 data centre schemes in Brent Cross. The London 1 facility went live in 2022 and supports 12MW of IT power. We completed all professional consultant appointments, advised on procurement and contracting arrangements, drafting the building contract amendments and dealt with numerous ancillary agreements. We have also assisted on planning matters and provided energy connection and regulatory advice.
Pure DC Jakarta
We assisted on the construction aspects for Pure DC’s first hyper scale data centre in Indonesia, which opened in May 2023. The 20,000 square meter centre with 20MW IT load capacity is ready to support digitalization and cloud computing in the region. We prepared and negotiated all professional consultant appointments over a period of one year. We also dealt with a range of ancillary agreements.
Vantage
Advising Vantage on a range of data centre campus projects including advising on grid capacity arrangements, gas generation projects, consultancy arrangements, supply chain arrangements, reservation agreements and on their FIDIC suite of contracts (D&B and O&M).
Utility connection arrangements
We support data centre clients on the procurement and delivery of contestable works and use of ICPs (Independent Connection Provider), iDNOs (independent district network operator arrangements) and the contractual/interface arrangements between developers/site owners, iDNOs, DNOs and ICP contractors.
Heat Networks
We have advised on over 100+ heat networks for public and private sectors. We are appointed by DESNZ to support on future zoning arrangements and Ofgem on up-coming regulations. As part of our role on heat network projects, we advise on data centre heat–off take arrangements.
Local authorities
Advising authorities and other off-takers on connection to district heating projects utilising low-carbon sourced energy from data centres.
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