Data centre to be speculatively redeveloped as Grade A warehouse

Developer PLP has bought a 17-acre redundant data centre site in Stafford, which it intends to redevelop as a prime 350,000ft2 logistics warehouse unit – to be known as PLP Stafford.

The plot at at Stone Business Park in Stafford will see the redevelopment of a redundant, and recently vacated data centre into a new, high spec, big box logistics warehouse including over 20,000ft2 of offices. The scheme will also include a separately accessed, secure service yard up to 67m deep, a car park with over 300 spaces and the retention and enhancement of the existing landscaping belt around the perimeter of the site.

A detailed planning application for the proposal was submitted to Stafford Council earlier this month. Following planning approval and demolition of the existing building on site, construction will commence later this year with completion scheduled for Q2 2023.

The scheme will achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and, as with all PLP speculatively developed properties, and will adhere to the UK Green Building Councils Net Zero Buildings Framework. It will also see the use of solar photovoltaics, air source heating and cooling, LED lighting and electric car charging points. Future flexibility is also built into the design, with features such as a strengthened roof to enable full coverage of solar photovoltaics and underground infrastructure to facilitate 100% of all car and HGV parking spaces to have electric charging points.

The project is also forecasted to deliver a host of significant socio-economic benefits including over 100 additional jobs during the construction phase and over 500 new permanent jobs once the scheme is occupied.

WSP are the planning consultants for the scheme.

Knight Frank and Avison Young are joint letting agents.