Ark Data Centres (UK): Ark Elstree Data Center 5

The Ark Elstree Data Center 5 (Elstree Campus) is part of Ark Data Centres’ multi-building campus in the Elstree / Hertsmere area, just north of London, UK.  This location is strategically placed close to the M25 and A41 road networks, enabling strong physical connectivity to Greater London and surrounding regions. 

Elstree is envisioned as a major growth site in Ark’s London portfolio: the campus is planned to eventually deliver 250 MVA of power across multiple data center buildings (six or more) beginning 2028.The modular, scalable architecture is designed to support high-density workloads, including next-generation compute and AI infrastructure

⚙️ Facility Highlights

Because Data Center 5 is still under development (within the Elstree campus buildout), only broad infrastructure principles and planned capabilities are confirmed. Here’s what is known:

• The Elstree campus is developing with a modular steel-centric construction approach to ensure flexibility, adaptability, and resource efficiency. 
• Cooling strategies include direct air cooling, indirect air cooling, and liquid-cooled systems depending on density and design demands. 
• The design emphasizes high efficiency, aiming for low PUE (power usage effectiveness) through cooling optimizations and reduced mechanical cooling reliance. 
• The campus-level power goal is 250 MVA delivered across multiple phases, making Elstree one of the largest London-area DC campuses. 
• Infrastructure is intended for scalable high-density compute, aligning with AI and hyperscale use cases. 

🔐 Security & Compliance

• Ark Data Centres holds a portfolio of certifications including ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001 across its operations. 
• The Elstree site is presented as a secure campus with controlled access and perimeter protections, aligned with Ark’s standard security posture. 
• 24/7 monitoring, logging, and layered security controls are part of Ark’s operational model across its data centers. 

🌐 Connectivity & Carrier Access

• The Elstree campus is designed to be carrier-neutral, enabling customers to choose among multiple network providers. 
• Onsite or near-campus fiber partners will support high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity to London’s metro and national fiber backbone.
• The facility will support cross-connects and cloud on-ramps, facilitating seamless interconnection with cloud providers and networks. 

💼 Who It Serves

• Hyperscale and AI infrastructure operators needing large-scale compute capacity in the London market
• Enterprises seeking resilient, high-density, scalable colocation in Greater London
• Cloud service providers looking for strong connectivity to London and UK-wide networks
• Organizations needing modular deployment flexibility with future scalability
• Businesses prioritizing sustainability and efficient operations, consistent with Ark’s green design ethos