Microsoft is investing in a huge data centre in Newport. The US technology giant is understood to have acquired the former Quinn Radiators building at the Imperial Park scheme in Newport for the project.
The industrial unit, which previously to Quinn was occupied by Korean electronics firms LG, extends to around one million sq ft.
It is not clear whether Microsoft, subject to planning, will demolish the building to make way for a data centre, or revamp the existing structure.
Energy intensive data centres are used by companies and organisations to house critical applications and data.
The building, and associated 40 acres of land, has been marketed by property advisory firm JLL. They declined to comment when asked if the building, owned by Westbrook Partners, has been acquired by Microsoft.
Any new data centre at Imperial Park would require an investment running into tens of millions of pounds.
The Quinn Radiators building is next to an existing data centre owned by US venture Vantage Data Centres.
Microsoft wouldn’t comment specifically on any plans for a data centre in Newport. However, in a statement, it said: “Microsoft has been investing in data centres in the UK for more than six years and we believe there is a great opportunity for Microsoft’s cloud services to support local business growth and innovation. We don’t have anything definitive to share at this time, but can confirm we are committed to supporting digital transformation in the UK with the Microsoft cloud.”
