PLANS have been drawn up to build a large data centre on Tilbury's floodplain.

Statera Energy are the company behind proposals for the site, which will also include an ecology park, and as a first step asked Thurrock Council if they would be required to submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA) as part of the application.

The submission can be read here.

An EIA is a formal study that predicts how a proposed building or infrastructure project will affect the natural environment and local communities and can be expensive to produce. The report would cover impacts on pollution and local drainage, biodiversity, noise and traffic issues and the development's impact on the surrounding area.

In response the council has told the applicants an EIA will be required.

The site, alongside Marshfoot Road and the Dock approach Road (A1089) covers approximately 83.3 hectares of land and currently comprises an extensive area of low-lying arable farmland.

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

The proposed development is described as a 500 megawatt (MW) data centre campus, with buildings up to two storeys and approximately 20m in height. It will include a battery energy storage system.

Statera Energy hope to begin construction works in 2028 and the site would be complete by 2033.

The submission to the council, which includes responses from consultees, can be read here.

Among the consultees, the Environment Agency has said: "The proposed development is situated in the Tilbury Flood Storage Area – this is considered as category A reservoir, as stated in our response. Whilst this makes the delivery of the proposal more complex, we have and will continue to work with the applicant to address the issues this raises."