Leading property developer Stoford has announced the practical completion of an energy-efficient data centre at Worcester Six Business Park for one of Europe’s largest data-hosting companies.
The 43,708 sq ft unit for IONOS, the largest European-based data hosting company, and Fasthosts, its subsidiary UK brand, comprises a cutting-edge 30,729 sq ft data centre and 12,978 sq ft of ancillary offices.
Completed on time, the unit has a wide range of sustainable and energy-efficient features, including solar photovoltaic panels that cover the entire roof and Tata Steel’s Confidex Sustain wall and roof cladding, which creates a carbon-neutral building envelope.
Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “We’ve made superb progress on this data centre for IONOS and are pleased to announce we have achieved practical completion.
“We are proud to have delivered Wychavon’s first data centre for IONOS and the environmentally friendly facilities are testament to the company’s quest for sustainability, something that we at Stoford are also keen to pursue across all of our sites.
“As Worcester Business Park continues to take shape, it has gained a well-deserved reputation as a first-class site that is attracting global names to the region. Its strategic location and excellent transport links demonstrate that companies recognise it as a place to grow and do business.”
Sab Knight, Head of UK Sales at IONOS, said: “The new Worcester site is crucial for IONOS’ growth in the UK and shows our commitment to further invest in infrastructure and jobs.
“We are very happy that the building was completed on time and have already started the technical fit out of the data centre in what will be the most modern and environmentally friendly IONOS data centre to date. The Worcester Six site will start operation in the first half of 2022 and will host one of the most advanced cloud platforms in Europe.”
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills, said: “It is great news for the county as construction has now finished at IONOS’s unit at Worcester Six Business Park. It’s another clear and visual indication of the progress we have made over recent years, being able to welcome world-renowned businesses to Worcestershire.
“The completion of the IONOS build will provide Worcestershire with a highly valued asset through the company’s connections with data, one of the world’s most valuable commodities, and should bring substantial economic benefits for the county.”
Councillor Richard Morris, Wychavon District Council Deputy Leader and Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, said: “I’m delighted with this investment, which delivers not only high quality jobs and a sustainable building but essential IT infrastructure businesses need to develop and expand. It is a sign of the confidence investors have, not only in our growing local economy, but in Worcester Six Business Park itself as Worcestershire’s premier gamechanger site, offering a broad range of employment opportunities for residents.”
IONOS was established in 1988 and is the largest hosting company in Europe, managing more than eight million customer contracts and hosting more than 12 million domains in its regional data centres around the globe. The IONOS group operates in fifteen countries around the world and employs 3,500 people worldwide.
In the past three years, Worcester Six has welcomed Marmon Food and Beverage Equipment, Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal and Kohler Mira. Once fully developed, the business park will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation.