GLI Proposes Massive Charlton Data Centre Development in Greenwich 2026

Key points

• Massive Development Proposed: Developer GLI has submitted early plans to Greenwich Council for a 100,000-square-metre data centre in Charlton, equivalent to the size of 14 football pitches.
• Heritage Impact: The project could lead to the demolition of historic industrial buildings, though part of a previously hidden narrow-gauge railway will be preserved.
• Site Location: The proposed site sits off Anchor & Hope Lane, close to the River Thames, behind residential properties at Atlas Gardens and Derrick Gardens.
• Mixed-Use Vision: Alongside the digital infrastructure, GLI intends to construct dedicated spaces for small businesses and local community use.
• Construction Timeline: Subject to approval, physical work on the development is projected to begin in 2028, with completion anticipated by 2033.
• Departure from Housing Focus: The site was formerly designated for housing, but a 771-home scheme was rejected by Greenwich Council, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and central government in 2020.
• Current Planning Phase: The developer has submitted a preliminary technical request to ascertain whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required before submitting a full planning application.
• Industrial Significance: The land includes the former premises of Stone Foundries, a major historic industrial employer known for producing Second World War ship propellers before relocating to Kent in 2020.

Charlton (South London News) August 18, 2026 – Early planning documentation submitted to Greenwich Council has revealed proposals for a massive data centre scheme in Charlton, which could lead to the total demolition of several historic industrial structures while preserving key railway heritage.

What are the main details of the proposed Charlton data centre?

The proposed development, brought forward by real estate firm GLI, spans a total floor area of 100,000 square metres—a footprint equivalent to roughly 14 football pitches. Situated on land off Anchor & Hope Lane near the River Thames, the expansive plot stretches behind existing residential properties located at Atlas Gardens and Derrick Gardens. Under the current outline, the project will feature a high-capacity data centre designed to support digital network infrastructure, alongside newly designated workspace aimed at supporting local small businesses and community functions.

Under the rollout timeframe outlined in the early submissions, physical construction on the Anchor & Hope Lane site is scheduled to commence in 2028, with full completion targeted for 2033. The technical application currently under review by Greenwich Council planning officers seeks a formal screening opinion to establish whether a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necessary before a detailed, formal planning application is lodged in the coming months.

How does this development shift previous planning priorities for the site?

The submission represents a distinct shift in land use for the Charlton site, which was previously earmarked for residential housing. In 2020, major proposals to construct 771 residential units on the plot were rejected by Greenwich Council and refused by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The decision was subsequently upheld by central government inspectors following a comprehensive planning appeal. Following the refusal of the housing scheme, developer GLI secured planning approval for a industrial warehouse project on a section of the land. The current data centre submission expands the scope of commercial and industrial redevelopment across the plot.

What is the historical significance of the Charlton site?

The land selected for the data centre incorporates a portion of a local trading estate as well as the former operational complex of Stone Foundries. Stone Foundries represented one of Charlton’s longest-standing industrial employers, notably manufacturing specialized marine propellers that played a crucial part in the Royal Navy’s war effort during the Second World War. The foundry ceased operations at the Charlton premises in 2020 after transferring its manufacturing activities to Kent.

While the new data centre construction risks the demolition of remaining heritage structures associated with the area’s industrial past, early documents indicate that a section of a previously hidden narrow-gauge railway discovered on the premises will be retained and integrated into the final site design.

Background of the Anchor & Hope Lane industrial plot

The industrial plot off Anchor & Hope Lane has historically formed a central core of Charlton’s manufacturing economy along the River Thames. Throughout the 20th century, the area hosted heavy industrial operations, dominated by metallurgical and engineering firms including Stone Foundries. As heavy industry gradually moved away from Inner East London, the site transitioned into a mix of light industrial use and storage facilities.

Efforts to redevelop the area began in earnest over the past decade, driven by London-wide policy seeking to reallocate former industrial land for urban renewal. However, the conflict between residential development and commercial infrastructure has remained a key planning challenge for Greenwich Council. The rejection of the 2020 residential scheme highlighted government and municipal requirements to balance regional housing targets against industrial land preservation and local transport capacity. The introduction of data centre plans reflects a growing trend across Greater London, where former manufacturing zones are increasingly repurposed to house critical digital infrastructure.

What are the predictions for how this development will affect the local community and market?

The realization of a 100,000-square-metre data centre off Anchor & Hope Lane is likely to bring notable structural and economic impacts to several key stakeholder groups across Charlton and the broader Borough of Greenwich:

• Local Residents: Residents living in immediate proximity to the site—particularly within Derrick Gardens and Atlas Gardens—will face a multi-year construction phase running from 2028 to 2033. While the operational phase of a data centre typically generates lower daily traffic volumes compared to traditional distribution hubs or high-density housing, residents may raise questions regarding the visual impact, structural massing, and continuous energy load demands near residential zones.
• Small Businesses and Community Groups: The inclusion of dedicated space for commercial enterprises and community facilities could offer local startups and community organizations modernized, purpose-built premises, offsetting some of the loss of traditional workspace caused by the closure of historic industrial sites.
• Industrial Heritage Advocates: Local historians and preservation groups will face a mixed outcome. While the loss of the historic Stone Foundries structures marks the final physical end of a major wartime manufacturing site, the formal preservation of the narrow-gauge railway provides a permanent feature of local industrial history within the modernized site footprint.
• Regional Infrastructure and Digital Economy: For the wider Thames Estuary and South East London digital network, the addition of a major data facility will increase regional data-processing and storage capacity, aligning with broader commercial demand for localized digital infrastructure.