Clearstone is advancing proposals for a 300 megawatt AI data centre campus on a 145-acre site straddling Southfleet and Northfleet in Kent. The Ebbsfleet AI Data Centre Campus carries an estimated £3 billion cost and would deliver up to 180,000 square metres of data centre space across four buildings together with an on-site substation.
The site, currently agricultural land, would see development on approximately 90 acres. The remaining two fifths of the total area has been allocated for landscaping, biodiversity enhancement, publicly accessible green space and community facilities. Clearstone selected the location for its available land, high-speed connectivity and access to a talent pool capable of supporting AI-ready digital infrastructure close to London.
Residents of Southfleet, a village of fewer than 1,000 people characterised by country roads, a primary school, village hall and pub, received letters detailing the proposals in early July 2026. They have voiced fears that the scheme would industrialise the rural settlement, alter its character, increase traffic on local roads and place additional strain on energy and water resources.
The UK government has classified the proposal as a development of national significance. This routes the decision through the Development Consent Order process to the Secretary of State rather than leaving it solely with the local council. Clearstone intends to conduct an initial round of public consultations this autumn, followed by fuller consultation in 2027, with a planning application targeted for 2028 and an operational start date of 2030 if consent is secured.
Jobs and economic contribution
The project is projected to generate more than 700 construction jobs during its build phase and more than 400 permanent on-site roles once operational. Simon Rothwell, project director at Clearstone, stated: "The Ebbsfleet AI Data Centre Campus is an exciting opportunity to create high skilled local jobs and drive business growth in the Dartford area while supporting the UK’s goal of harnessing the economic benefits of being an AI leader. Our aim is to develop a cutting edge facility that boosts the local and national economy and responds sensitively to its surroundings through careful design and landscaping."
Data centre capacity of this scale forms part of the wider expansion required to meet accelerating demand for artificial intelligence computing. Such facilities have been designated critical national infrastructure, with updated regulations channelling nationally significant proposals through central government oversight. The proximity of the site to existing infrastructure, including the HS1 railway, the A2 road and the Northfleet East substation roughly 500 metres away, underpinned its selection.
