Key Points
- Ealing Council approved a new data centre on the former Honey Monster Food Factory site in Southall.
- The developer will provide almost £17.8 million in planning contributions, which the council says will fund transport, carbon reduction, air quality and skills measures.
- The council says the project’s electricity needs will not be taken from the existing local grid.
- The scheme was approved on 15 July 2026, just before new draft London Plan guidance on data centres was published.
- The development is expected to create 1,105 construction jobs and 647 operational jobs.
- The site has been vacant since the former factory was demolished in 2022.
ealing/southall/">Southall (West London News) July 22, 2026 – Ealing Council has approved plans for a major data centre on the former Honey Monster Food Factory site in Southall, with the borough set to receive almost £17.8 million in planning contributions from the developer. The council said the application was judged against the planning policies and material considerations in force at the time of the decision, rather than the newly published draft London Plan guidance.
What did the council say about electricity demand?
As reported by the London Standard, the council insists that the site’s high energy demands will not be met by the existing local grid.
A spokesperson said applicants must show that the necessary utility infrastructure can be provided and that any required upgrades are subject to agreement with infrastructure providers. The spokesperson also said electricity capacity is a recognised issue across west London and that capacity
“will not be coming from the existing local grid”.
What will the developer pay for?
According to the reporting, the financial package is intended to support transport improvements, road safety, active travel, carbon offsetting, air quality work, employment and skills schemes, and other infrastructure needs. More than £2 million is earmarked for bus service enhancements, road safety and active travel measures along Bridge Road, while over £5.3 million is set aside for carbon offsetting.
The scheme also includes provision for a future district heating network and a giant screen on the eastern elevation for community events.
How big is the Southall scheme?
The data centre will be built by CyrusOne on a 6.8-hectare site and will rise to four storeys, with more than 52,000 square metres of floor space.
Planning documents say the construction phase is expected to support 1,105 full-time jobs, while the finished site is forecast to create 647 jobs with an annual wage bill of £37 million.
The developer has also committed to funding 25 full apprenticeships and multiple work placements during construction.
What concerns were raised locally?
The Standard reported that concerns have been raised across London about the impact of data centres on the environment, electricity supply and water use.
It also noted that some west London housing projects have been delayed because of grid capacity issues, with data centres partly blamed for the pressure.
In Southall, the application received one formal objection, alongside wider concerns about construction traffic, parking pressures, transport infrastructure and anti-social behaviour in nearby public spaces.
Which conditions remain in place?
The approval still depends on standard planning conditions, the finalisation of a Section 106 agreement, and a Stage 2 referral to the Mayor of London. Planning officers said the site was suitable for a data centre because of its existing power and digital infrastructure. The council also said the project would bring a long-vacant brownfield site back into productive use.
Explore More Ealling News
Ealing Council fined over disabled mum’s B&B stay, West London 2026
Ealing Council Plans £30m Buy of South Acton Homes 2026
Background of this development
The Southall site was once home to the Honey Monster Food Factory, which had operated from a building originally built in 1937 before operations ceased in 2016. The factory was demolished in 2022 and the site has remained vacant since then.
The approval came just before new draft London Plan guidance was published on data centres, reflecting growing attention in London to how these facilities should be balanced against environmental and infrastructure concerns.
Prediction for local residents and businesses
For Southall residents, the project is likely to bring visible construction activity, more jobs and some local infrastructure funding, but it may also keep attention on traffic, parking and utility capacity in the area.
Businesses could benefit from construction spending and later from increased local employment, while community groups are likely to watch closely how the promised transport and environmental contributions are delivered. Longer term, the development may become a reference point in wider west London debates about how digital infrastructure is powered and planned.
