About the project
Thurrock Data Centre is a proposed data centre campus which, if consented, would be constructed, owned and operated by Google. The site lies to the south of the M25/A13 junction and is allocated for Tier 1 employment use in the emerging Thurrock Local Plan.
The proposals would see around half of this previously developed site brought back into long-term productive use, delivering critical digital infrastructure alongside new public open space and green links, including new multi-user routes, lake access, habitat improvements, and a mountain-bike trail.
A data centre is a highly secure facility that stores, processes and manages digital information. Many everyday online activities – from banking and emails to navigation and cloud services used by businesses and public services – depend on data centres operating safely and efficiently in the background.
About Google Data Centres
Google data centres enable our users to run their activities on top of keeping all of Google's products and services up and running around the world.
We design our data centres to be efficient and reliable, ensuring we invest in community development and lead the industry in data security and sustainability. This includes a commitment to run on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030.
Learn more about Google data centresProject benefits
Should the project be consented, Thurrock would form part of Google's strategic digital infrastructure in the UK, underpinning cloud services used by businesses, public services, schools and hospitals, and supporting innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence.
The project would deliver a range of economic and community benefits for Thurrock, including:
Significant private investment
Over the three-year construction phase, the proposals would generate around £770 million for the Thurrock economy, supporting around 3,500 jobs across Thurrock in an average year (Oxford Economics).
Long-term, high-quality jobs
Once operational, the data centre is expected to generate £130 million for the Thurrock economy every year and support around 1,280 jobs across the local economy, including c. 330 direct FTE operational roles on site, with high-skilled and STEM-based employment in engineering, IT and facilities management.
Wider economic benefits
Nearly three additional jobs supported elsewhere in the local economy for every role based at the data centre.
Local skills, training and supply chains
The project would support local employment opportunities, including skills training and apprenticeships, as part of the local skills and employment commitments to be secured through the section 106 process.
New public open space and environmental improvements
Around half of the site is dedicated to providing new public open space and environmental improvements, which could include recreational fishing and lake access, informal mountain biking circuits, new multi-user trails, natural play areas and biodiversity enhancements.
A commitment to community investment
Google would work with the Council and other partners on skills, local procurement and wider opportunities, and has already engaged with a number of organisations to deliver benefits to the local area, including ParentZone, Mission 44 and Thurrock Youth Zone.
Document library
Download our consultation documents from the previous consultation to learn more about the proposals.
Consultation and engagement
Public and stakeholder feedback at public events and in response to our public consultation has played an important role in shaping the proposals for Thurrock Data Centre.
Following submission of the planning application, we have continued to meet with local stakeholders and attend community forums.
To provide updates on the proposals following submission of the planning application, two community drop-in sessions took place:
The Old Courthouse
Friday 24 April | 2pm - 6pm
The Old Courthouse, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DD
The Beehive Resource Centre
Monday 27 April | 5pm - 8pm
The Beehive Resource Centre, West Street, Grays, RM17 6XP
Members of the project team were available to answer questions and discuss the project.