Tech giant invests $1 billion in Waltham Cross and buys space at North Weald in Essex for future growth

It's not often that Waltham Cross gets a mention at Davos - the annual meeting of the world's movers and shakers held in January at the Swiss ski resort. This year Debbie Weinstein, Vice President of Google and Managing Director of Google UK & Ireland announced significant new investments in her statement to the Davos gathering.

In her blog at Davos Ms Weinstein announced:

People and businesses in every corner of the UK rely on data centres to power helpful services like Search, Maps, YouTube, Workspace and Google Cloud. As more people tap into the opportunities created by the country’s digital economy and we unlock new ways for AI-powered technologies to boost productivity, fuel creativity, improve health outcomes and unlock scientific discoveries, it’s vital that we invest in the technical infrastructure needed to support innovation and tech-led growth.

One of the ways that we’re doing this is by investing $1 billion in a new UK data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. The 33-acre site will create construction and technical jobs for the local community. Once complete, this investment will bring crucial compute capacity to businesses across the UK, supporting AI innovation and helping to ensure reliable digital services to Google Cloud customers and Google users in the UK and abroad.

Google’s continued investment in the UK

Today’s investment in our Waltham Cross data centre is the latest in a series of investments that support Brits and the wider economy at large and is further evidence of Google’s continued commitment to the UK — a key country for our business and a pioneering world leader in AI, technology and science. This announcement builds on our investment in our offices with the $1bn purchase of our Central Saint Giles office in 2022, the 1 million sq ft. development in King's Cross, and the launch of our Accessibility Discovery Centre — which aims to spur the creation of accessible tech for the whole of the UK.

New expansion space at North Weald

Following the Waltham Cross announcement, Epping Forest council has announced the sale of land at North Weald airfield in Essex to Google for the "possible" development of a new data centre campus.

Epping Forest District Council said 52 acres at North Weald Airfield had been allocated for employment use.

The airfield would "continue to function as an operational aerodrome", with a new combined control tower and fire station also planned.

The plans were announced at a meeting on Tuesday 23rd January.

The council said its announcement came after an "extensive consultation" among key local stakeholders and local residents which was carried out in light of a masterplan put together last March.

Chris Whitbread, leader of the Conservative-controlled council, said: "The potential that this development brings is immense - not only in terms of advancing our digital infrastructure but also in generating high-quality, well-paid employment opportunities and bolstering our local economy.

"The sale makes the best use of the land available at North Weald Airfield, both in terms of driving forward our local economy as well as meeting the recommendations of the strategic masterplan."

The council's finance and economic development portfolio holder, John Philip, told the meeting the sale had been completed.

In a statement, a Google spokesperson said: "While we do not have a confirmed timeline for development, we want to ensure we have the option to expand our technical infrastructure, should our business demand it."