Netwise to expand London East data centre

Author: Simon Rowley

Netwise has announced the next major phase of development and expansion at its Netwise London East (NLE) data centre.

This expansion will see the data centre operator extend into the adjacent building on the Datapoint estate, which is next to the existing four-hall facility. The result will be a single expanded facility housing six high-specification data halls, increasing the total footprint by approximately 13,000ft².

The initial fit-out phase began in July, with the main internal schedule of technical works set to commence in early 2025, and the project will add 168 racks to NLE.

The new building is undergoing a full refurbishment, both inside and out, following the departure of the previous occupants. This refurbishment is in preparation for the main work schedule, which will start thereafter.

This marks the first major step towards developing NLE into a campus-style facility, spanning multiple buildings on the same estate. The two units will become a single operational building, with multiple pass-through points for clients and staff, as well as for the sharing of core services.

In addition to the increased rack capacity, the new space will introduce further amenities and technical features, including increased capacity for staff, a second loading bay and storage area, more on-site parking and EV charging, and improvements to water handling capabilities.

There will also be flexible space reserved for future use, providing additional service options for potential wholesale customers, such as private on-site NOC capabilities.

Matt Seaton, Director of Netwise, comments, “This represents another seven-figure investment by Netwise in its own future, and the future of its clients. To be announcing this level of growth at NLE only a couple of years after the first clients moved in is something we’re very proud of. It’s a testament to the strength of this sector, and our own position within it.”

The uptake of services at NLE has been extremely impressive since its soft opening in the spring of 2022, Netwise tells us, with the phased fit-out schedule just keeping pace with demand. The current building now has three of the four data halls deployed, with the final hall scheduled to be online by the end of 2024.

The two new halls coming as part of the facility expansion project will be larger than the halls in the current building, housing 84 racks per hall at maximum rack density – a 33% increase per hall. These new halls will house three containment pods each, providing greater scope for private space options.

In June, the Netwise London Central (NLC) facility officially closed after serving clients for 10 years. The forthcoming expansion at Netwise London East was a key factor behind the decision to shutter NLC, as many core components within the site reached end of life.

The large seven-figure reinvestment required to adequately refresh NLC has instead been diverted to the new facility, which has the forward-looking scope to propel Netwise into the next phase of its growth cycle.

The NLE expansion comes as Netwise continues to welcome an exciting range of new clients into its facilities, as well as facilitating the growth of its long-standing customers.

Matthew Butt, Managing Director of Netwise, adds, “We always knew that we’d be expanding NLE in time, to facilitate our growth trajectory. However, to be at that stage already is a tangible demonstration of our performance and reputation in this industry. I’m very excited by this next phase, particularly as we come out the back of the NLC closure, which required considerable care and attention.”

The expansion of NLE will bolster Netwise’s position as a leading data centre operator in the high-demand East London/Docklands region, furthering the significant investments made in its flagship facility, which has been in operation since mid-2022.

While finer details of the technical plans are still expected to develop over the closing months of 2024, the overarching plans are already locked in and can be discussed with interested parties looking to utilise bulk space in the new side of the facility.

The Netwise team looks forward to showcasing the new side of the facility as it develops, and the Netwise build blog will be back in action, documenting the entire build process.

For more from Netwise, click here.