Commercial Real Estate: Property Developments, Trends & Infrastructure

'Gen Z don’t want data centres in their backyard'

New polling conducted by YouGov, a UK international market research and data analytics company, on behalf of Cavendish Consulting, a UK communications consultancy, reveals that while the UK public broadly supports the expansion of data centres, younger generations are significantly less comfortable with them on their doorstep. Just 44% of Gen Z say they would support a new data centre in their local area - the lowest level of support of any generation - while 31% would actively oppose one. By contrast, Gen Z opposition to data centres nationally stands at just 13%, highlighting that proximity is a key issue. The survey of 2,124 UK adults aged over 18 shows strong backing for the sector overall. Some 69% of Brits support new data centres across the UK. However, support falls to 56% when developments are proposed locally, with opposition more than doubling from 10% nationally to 21% in respondents’ own areas. The findings come as the UK Government plans a major expansion of data centre capacity to bolster the country’s position as a global hub for AI innovation and to unlock significant productivity gains. Capacity is expected to increase from 1.6GW in 2024 to between 3.3GW and 6.3GW by 2030. Jobs drive support, but expectations may outpace reality Employment is the sector’s strongest argument at community level. Nearly half (49%) of respondents say new local jobs would make them more likely to support a data centre, rising to 58% among those already supportive. However, the UK’s 450 data centres currently support around 24,300 full-time roles - an average of 54 per site - suggesting public expectations for job creation may exceed the sector’s current footprint. Environment remains the key battleground Environmental concerns dominate opposition, cited by 39% of respondents (particularly among younger audiences). Across generations, the main reasons for opposing local data centres are: impact on the local environment, pressure on energy supply, and water usage (with water being especially important for Gen Z). Notably, only 22% of Gen Z who oppose or are undecided say investment in green space would change their view, and a quarter of opponents say nothing would persuade them to support a local data centre. With the increasing presence of the Green Party, especially at local government level, environmental factors are predicted to become even more influential. Recent YouGov polling conducted by Cavendish Consulting (22–23 Feb 2026) shows 46% of young people would now vote Green, highlighting the political dimension of environmental concern. The top reasons that could sway Gen Z to support local data centres are new jobs (45%) and lower energy bills (37%). Max Camplin, Executive Director at Cavendish Consulting, comments, “While national support for data centres is strong, local backing depends on credibility. "Environmental impact is the top driver of opposition, particularly among younger audiences who prioritise ecological protection over economic benefits. The sector must address this head on, countering misconceptions and clearly demonstrating how impacts are prevented. Above all, developers should speak the language of each community, tailoring messages to local priorities and political context, with environmental responsibility running as a golden thread throughout.”

Data centre land platform, TEA Real Estate, launched

A new specialist real estate platform, TEA Real Estate, has been formed with a focus on identifying and preparing land for data centre development across the UK and Europe. The company aims to secure and prepare sites suitable for digital infrastructure as demand grows from hyperscalers, operators, and institutional investors. Founded by Gary Goodman, John Clarke, and Paul Boyfield, the business focuses on sites where planning, utilities, and environmental challenges must be addressed before development can begin. It will work across the UK and selected European markets, preparing land for potential data centre projects. The team also includes Duncan Clubb, Associate Partner, who has experience advising on mission-critical data centre and enterprise infrastructure. Focus on brownfield and constrained sites TEA Real Estate says it focuses on progressing constrained or underused land, including brownfield and redundant industrial sites, through planning, environmental, and infrastructure processes so that development can move forward. Sites with existing grid connections are increasingly important as power availability becomes a key constraint on data centre growth. The company says it already has visibility of a pipeline of potential opportunities across the UK and Europe, ranging from smaller edge facilities to large campus-scale developments. It may operate either as an advisor or as a development partner, depending on project requirements. John Clarke, Partner at TEA Real Estate, notes, “There is no shortage of capital and demand for data centres, but there is a real shortage of viable, deliverable land. TEA Real Estate exists to bridge that gap - doing the hard development work upfront to turn complex sites into opportunities that investors and operators can move on with confidence.” Gary Goodman, Partner, adds, “Planning, power, and environmental risk are now the defining constraints on data centre growth. Our focus is on de-risking sites properly - from contaminated land and remediation through to planning strategy and stakeholder management - so that development can progress with greater certainty and pace.” Paul Boyfield, Partner, comments, “AI presents one of the biggest economic opportunities for UK plc in a generation, but it also brings significant challenges around infrastructure, energy, and planning. "If the UK is to remain competitive, we need to move faster in enabling the physical foundations that AI depends on. TEA Real Estate is focused on helping unlock that growth by making complex sites viable and investable.” TEA Real Estate says it will work with data centre operators seeking land for development, institutional investors and infrastructure funds looking for access to development-ready sites, and major landowners seeking to repurpose redundant estates. Associate Partner Duncan Clubb concludes, “Operators want locations that work technically as well as commercially. TEA Real Estate understands the operational realities of mission-critical infrastructure and aligns land, power, and planning strategy with how data centres are actually designed, built, and run.”

CPP Investments, Equinix to acquire atNorth

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), a Canadian pension fund manager, and Equinix, a US global data centre and interconnection services provider, have agreed to acquire Nordic data centre operator atNorth from Partners Group in a $4 billion (£2.9 billion) enterprise value transaction. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. CPP Investments will invest approximately $1.6 billion (£1.18 billion) for a 60% controlling interest, while Equinix will hold a 40% stake. The companies have also provisionally agreed a $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion) financing package, underwritten by European and Canadian lenders, to fund the acquisition and future expansion. atNorth currently operates eight data centres across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, with additional sites under development. The company has around 800MW in its installed and active development pipeline due online over the next five years, alongside 1GW of secured power for further expansion. Nordic data centre expansion plans Several atNorth facilities are designed to support AI and high-performance computing workloads, including liquid cooling capability. The portfolio incorporates renewable energy sourcing, heat reuse, and modular design principles. Equinix currently operates eight data centres in the Nordics, five in Helsinki and three in Stockholm, as part of a wider European footprint of more than 100 facilities across 20 countries. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, says, “This acquisition is a powerful validation of atNorth’s journey and its market position as the leading Nordics data centre platform. It further illustrates the strategic importance of the region as Europe’s rising AI powerhouse. "I’m extremely proud to announce the next step in our chapter, welcoming this investment from CPP Investments and Equinix, which will enable access to capital, global enterprise, and hyperscale relationships, and supply chain strength required to scale at pace. "Our strategy remains firmly rooted in the Nordics, and we will continue to operate independently under the atNorth brand, preserving our dedication to the communities where we operate and the culture and values that have defined our success to date.” Maximilian Biagosch, Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Real Assets at CPP Investments, comments, “This transaction builds on our long-standing and highly productive relationship with Equinix. It demonstrates our conviction and commitment to the data centre sector, where demand continues to accelerate, fuelled by continued strong enterprise demand as well as cloud and AI adoption. "The Nordics are an attractive market for data centre growth, and the opportunity to partner with Equinix on this acquisition allows us to deploy capital at scale into a high-quality platform, helping us deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries.” Bruce Owen, President, EMEA at Equinix, adds, “The scalable sites of atNorth are very complementary to Equinix’s connectivity services and global footprint. Combined with our joint focus on sustainability, this acquisition is expected to enhance our ability to help customers unlock the full potential of the Nordics’ expanding digital landscape." For more from Equinix, click here.

New hyperscaler capacity to outpace colocation in Europe

Data centre capacity owned and operated exclusively by hyperscalers, also known as 'self-builds', in Europe is expected to outpace the growth of colocation supply in 2026, according to new research from real estate services company CBRE. The latest research shows that hyperscaler self-build capacity across Europe is expected to reach 4.2GW this year, representing 24% year-on-year growth compared to 2025. This new supply will be delivered across nine European countries, marking the seventeenth consecutive year of double-digit expansion for the segment. Hyperscalers are set to deliver a record level of self-build capacity this year as they expand cloud regions and support increasing volumes of equipment dedicated to artificial intelligence workloads. As of Q4 2025, approximately 60% of Europe's operational hyperscaler self-build capacity is located in Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium. By comparison, the top 15 European colocation data centre markets are expected to grow 19% year-on-year. Despite slower growth relative to new hyperscaler self-builds, the European colocation segment will remain significantly larger. Strong demand endures CBRE notes that demand for colocation facilities remains robust across Europe. Hyperscalers and neocloud providers continue to rely on developer-operators for rapid delivery, flexible design options, and the ability to secure capacity on shorter timelines. Andrew Jay, Head of Data Centre Solutions, Europe at CBRE, says, "The hyperscaler self-build segment is growing as hyperscalers are looking to build facilities at scale and control more of the supply chain, the design of the facility, and ensure they have the power necessary." Kevin Restivo, Director, European Data Centre Research at CBRE, adds, "Traditionally, the fastest route to market for hyperscalers in need of data centre capacity delivered are the developer-operators. We expect this to remain true for the foreseeable future. Hyperscalers will, in some instances, build their own facilities though." For more from CBRE, click here.

Pulsant opens high-density UK facility outside London

UK data centre operator Pulsant has completed a £10 million investment in a new high-density data hall at its Milton Keynes site, SE-1. The facility has been developed to support increased demand for artificial intelligence and advanced computing workloads, with the expansion forming part of Pulsant’s national platformEDGE framework, extending high-performance, UK-based infrastructure outside the London market. The 1.2MW expansion is designed for high-density computing applications, including AI, machine learning, and accelerated workloads. These use cases are commonly associated with sectors such as financial services, healthcare, biotechnology, IT, and gaming. Regional capacity beyond the London market Pulsant positions the Milton Keynes site as an alternative location for organisations seeking UK data centre capacity outside London. The site sits within the Oxford-Cambridge technology cluster, which is home to around 570,000 employees and generates approximately £135 billion in annual turnover. The facility offers latency of around two milliseconds to London Docklands and Slough. It forms part of Pulsant’s network of 14 UK data centres, interconnected via a 400Gb-capable network, providing access to more than 1,600 cloud services, network providers, and business partners. The launch follows increased focus on domestic digital infrastructure, including government funding aimed at strengthening UK AI capability. Milton Keynes has continued to attract technology businesses, supported by regional business networks and digital innovation activity. Rob Coupland, CEO at Pulsant, says, “The £10 million expansion of our Milton Keynes data centre is another big investment in our digital platform to meet hunger for high density compute power. "UK digital infrastructure is facing unprecedented demand. With AI-ready capacity in short supply, bringing high performance, flexibility, and choice to regional locations is critical. “For organisations looking for ultra-low latency, international connectivity, and UK sovereign compute power, Milton Keynes is a great option compared to constrained and costly London data centres which lack the opportunity for expansion. “Our unique platform gives local, national, and international clients the flexibility to circumvent some of the risks associated with the London cluster while maintaining high performance, resilience, and connectivity.” Pulsant states that it plans to roll out its high-density model to additional UK regions as part of its wider national infrastructure strategy. For more from Pulsant, click here.

nLighten expands footprint through Paris site acquisition

nLighten, a European data centre operator, has announced the acquisition of a data centre in Émerainville, Paris from oXya, a provider of SAP cloud services and managed IT infrastructure. The facility becomes nLighten's eighth site in France and adds to its portfolio of over 30 data centres in seven markets. Strategically located in Paris's eastern data centre cluster, approximately one kilometre from nLighten's existing PAR1 facility, the site will continue serving anchor customer oXya under a long-term master services agreement, while additional capacity will be made available to enterprise customers via channel partners. The facility is designed to support high-density and AI-ready configurations, providing scalable infrastructure that evolves with customer requirements. nLighten says its approach emphasises delivering sustainable, interconnected infrastructure tailored to enterprise needs, with "seamless connectivity between [its] sites." Expanding digital infrastructure Harro Beusker, CEO and co-founder of nLighten, comments, "The acquisition of this Paris data centre represents a significant expansion of our French footprint and strengthens our position in one of Europe's most dynamic digital infrastructure markets. "Paris is a critical hub for regional connectivity and this facility enables us to deliver enhanced capacity and resilience to our enterprise customers. The proximity to our existing Paris sites creates operational synergies while also allowing us to support dual-site deployments. "This acquisition exemplifies our strategy of building smart, sustainable infrastructure that scales with customer needs and contributes to the digital transformation of European businesses." Anwar Saliba, Managing Director at nLighten France, adds, “This acquisition fully aligns with our ambition to build a distributed, locally operated digital infrastructure across France. "By adding capacity in the Paris region through three interconnected sites, we provide our customers with the conditions needed to deploy more resilient architectures, better secure their data, and meet growing requirements in terms of performance, service continuity, and digital sovereignty." Christophe Bronner, Group Chief Financial Officer at oXya, states, "We are pleased to see this data centre continue its evolution thanks to the partnership with nLighten. "This transition allows oXya to focus on its core business of delivering managed cloud services and consulting to our customers, while ensuring continuity and enhanced capabilities for our infrastructure needs. "We believe nLighten's expertise and commitment to sustainable operations will benefit both our organisation and the broader customer community.” For more from nLighten, click here.

BCS Consultancy launches Sustainable Development Service

BCS Consultancy, a global data centre consultancy, has launched a new Sustainable Development Service and appointed James Rogers Jones as Head of Sustainable Development. The new service formalises sustainability as a core element of BCS Consultancy’s project management, cost management, commercial advisory, and technical delivery work, rather than a standalone offering. The move reflects increasing client demand for advice that balances commercial delivery with environmental impact, community expectations, and long-term operational resilience. James joins BCS Consultancy with experience supporting major data centre operators, including Digital Realty, Google, GreenScale, and AtlasEdge. His work has focused on sustainability strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational performance across complex data centre portfolios. James comments, “Data centres underpin our modern economy and are one of the most impactful industries in the world. These assets can deliver enormous value to both clients and the communities they serve. "Sustainability should no longer be framed primarily around ESG-signalling or long-term carbon targets; instead, it is increasingly becoming linked to energy security, price stability, and operational resilience.” Responding to community and planning pressures The Sustainable Development Service will support clients with long-term decision-making, including data centre roadmaps, portfolio strategy, sustainability frameworks, and policy advisory. It is also intended to address growing development pressures, as community opposition and project cancellations increase across several data centre markets. BCS Consultancy points to findings from its forthcoming 2026 Data Centre Trends Report, which indicate that communities are seeking more than renewable energy commitments when considering data centre developments. Concerns increasingly relate to water usage, local electricity pricing, and wider quality of life impacts. The consultancy states that operators must demonstrate their role as responsible local stakeholders alongside meeting environmental targets. The launch of the service forms part of BCS Consultancy’s wider approach to supporting clients through continued growth in global digital infrastructure and increased demand driven by AI workloads. The consultancy positions sustainability as a contributor to long-term value for both clients and host communities. Chris Coward, Chief Operating Officer at BCS Consultancy, says, “Our clients are facing increasingly complex challenges from power constraints and planning risk to community scrutiny and long-term resilience. They need a simpler way to achieve their sustainability goals with project managers, cost managers, and technical experts who understand sustainability and can deliver outcomes as part of their day job. “The launch of our Sustainability Service is about delivering better outcomes and aligns with how our clients expect us to operate. James brings both credibility and clarity of thinking, and his appointment strengthens our ability to support responsible, long-term decision-making across the entire lifecycle.” For more from BCS Consultancy, click here.

XYZ Reality appoints new COO and CFO

XYZ Reality, a provider of augmented reality (AR) and real-time project controls, has appointed Bruno P.S. Rocha as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Soroosh Keshtgar (pictured above) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at a time when demand is increasing across data centre construction projects. The company says adoption of its construction delivery platform is rising across hyperscale data centre and mission-critical environments, with projects increasing in scale and complexity. The appointments are intended to support operational growth and long-term expansion. As COO, Bruno will be responsible for operational execution, aligning teams, and strengthening consistency across delivery as the company expands across markets and customers. His remit also includes shaping the operating model and supporting planned fundraising activity. He has previously held senior roles at Palantir and Gecko Robotics, with experience in engineering-led and robotics organisations. He joins XYZ Reality with a background focused on applying technology to physical-world operations. Soroosh joins as CFO as the company scales into larger projects and prepares for further international growth. His role will focus on strengthening financial systems, processes, and governance to support decision-making and future investment. He began his career in aerospace engineering before qualifying as a chartered accountant at PwC. He has since held senior finance roles in high-growth organisations, with experience in scaling finance functions during periods of rapid expansion and organisational change. Leadership to support mission-critical growth David Mitchell, founder and CEO of XYZ Reality, says, “As we scale the business, it’s critical that we strengthen our leadership team alongside the customer base and technology. "Bruno and Soroosh bring the experience, perspective, and operational discipline we need to support increasingly complex projects and build a resilient company for long-term growth.” Bruno Rocha, COO at XYZ Reality, comments, “XYZ Reality is at a real inflection point. The technology is proven and the momentum is clear; now it’s about building a company that can scale well beyond a single product or market. "This is about solving real problems in construction. With the right people and ambition, there’s a genuine opportunity to rethink how construction is delivered end to end.” Soroosh Keshtgar, CFO at XYZ Reality, adds, “As XYZ Reality scales into larger, more complex projects, financial clarity becomes critical. "My focus is on building the systems, transparency, and insight that allow the business to make confident, data-informed decisions, supporting customers, investors, and the wider team as we grow.” For more from XYZ Reality, click here.

Nostrum, JLL partner for 800MW development in Spain

Nostrum Data Centers, a developer of sustainable data centre infrastructure across Spain and Europe, has engaged JLL, a global commercial real estate and investment management company, to advance its AI-ready platform in Spain. Leveraging JLL’s global data centre experience, Nostrum says it is aiming to strengthen its customer engagement strategy and advance Spain’s emergence as a next-generation connectivity hub. In December 2025, Nostrum announced its data centre assets will be available in 2027, with power and land secured across all sites. The company is developing 500 MW of sustainable IT capacity across Spain, with an additional 300 MW planned for expansion. The company’s six data centre developments are strategically located throughout Spain to leverage existing connectivity and power infrastructure. Each facility is in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a PUE of 1.1 and a WUE of zero, eliminating water usage for cooling. Sustainable development in Spain Gabriel Nebreda, Chief Executive Officer at Nostrum Group, comments, “Nostrum Data Centers has a long-term vision for balancing innovation and sustainability. "We offer our customers speed-to-market and scalability throughout our various locations in Spain, all while leading a green revolution to ensure development is done the right way as we position Spain as the next connectivity hub. “We are confident that our engagement with JLL will be able to help us bolster our efforts and achieve our long-term vision.” Jason Bell, JLL Senior Vice President of Data Center and Technology Services in North America, adds, “Spain has a unique market position with its access to robust power infrastructure; its proximity to Points of Presence (PoPs), internet exchanges, subsea connectivity; and being one of the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) markets. “JLL is excited to be working with Nostrum Data Centers, providing our expertise and guidance to support their quest to be a leading data centre platform in Spain, as well as position Spain as the next connectivity hub in Europe and beyond.” For more from Nostrum Data Centers, click here.

1547 announces the McAllen Internet Exchange (MCT-IX)

fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547), a developer and operator of interconnected data centres and carrier hotels across North America, has announced the launch of the McAllen Internet Exchange, known as MCT-IX, located within the Chase Tower in McAllen, Texas. Chase Tower has long operated as a carrier hotel and a key aggregation point for cross-border network traffic between the United States and Mexico. The introduction of an internet exchange within the building provides a local platform for traffic exchange in a facility already used by multiple network operators. MCT-IX has been formally registered with ARIN and is now accepting initial participants, with several networks already committing ports. Interest in the exchange follows continued growth in network activity within Chase Tower. During 2025, the site has seen additional carrier deployments, capacity expansions by existing network operators, and increased demand for cross-connects. The building’s owner has invested more than $6 million (£4.4 million) in infrastructure upgrades, covering backup power, lifts, fire and life safety systems, and HVAC improvements. Capacity expansion and interconnection investment 1547 has also expanded interconnection infrastructure within the building, including the development of a new meet-me room and a dedicated carrier room. The additional space is designed to support growing cross-connect demand and to provide direct access between networks, the new internet exchange, and other tenants within the facility. Further capacity expansion is underway to support both existing data centre tenants and future MCT-IX participants; this includes an additional 500 kW of colocation capacity within Chase Tower, alongside a separate 3MW, 13,000ft² data centre annex. Both projects are scheduled for completion in Q4 2026. J. Todd Raymond, CEO and Managing Director of 1547, says, “Announcing MCT-IX is an important milestone for both 1547 and the McAllen market. "With formal ARIN recognition and early port commitments already underway, it is clear there is strong demand for an internet exchange that builds on the long-established interconnection ecosystem inside Chase Tower. "As owners of the carrier hotel, we are committed to supporting this next phase of growth.” The exchange is expected to reduce reliance on upstream routing that currently sends cross-border traffic outside the region before reaching its destination, giving networks a more local option for traffic exchange. John Bonczek, Chief Revenue Officer of 1547, adds, “Across Chase Tower, we are seeing measurable increases in interconnection activity, from new deployments to expanded capacity and growing interest in route diversity. "MCT-IX aligns with the needs of the ecosystem inside the building and complements our planned expansion.” 1547 says it will provide further updates as the exchange progresses through its launch phases and participation increases. For more from 1547, click here.