Harvesting Wind for Norfolk.

From the National Grid at Norwich Main substation. The Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm connects to the grid at the same substation, adding up to 2.9 GW of capacity.

Up to a maximum of 150 MW.

No. Local supplies will be unaffected by the data centre's demand, and it will not increase the frequency of local power cuts.

The site continues to draw from the National Grid at Norwich Main, which balances supply from all generation sources including the substantial battery energy storage systems located near the substation.

Yes, during grid outages and for short test periods. During a national electricity shortage the site would run on its backup generators rather than draw on the grid.

A closed-loop system with air-cooled chillers. The coolant circulates in a sealed loop and the chillers release the heat to the air. When outside air is cool enough, free cooling reduces energy use.

We are examining options for excess heat to be off-taken via district heating, which could be used elsewhere at facilities such as hospitals, leisure centres and in residential heating. We are at the early stages of this process and will share updates as we progress.

No. The cooling system is a closed loop, like the cooling system in a car. Once it has been filled, no water is consumed for cooling. The only regular water use is for servicing and cleaning the offices.

Coolant circulates through sealed pipework between the data halls and air-cooled chillers on the roof. The chillers use fans to pass the heat into the air, then the cooled liquid flows back round. Nothing is evaporated, so the same coolant is used again and again.

No. Many large data centres use evaporative cooling, which consumes water continuously. Norwich Apex uses air-cooled chillers instead, so it has no cooling towers and no evaporative water loss.

The system is filled once when it is commissioned. After that it only needs small top-ups from time to time, for example after maintenance.

No. Because cooling doesn't consume water, the site's day-to-day water use is similar to an office building of its size, so it won't place a significant demand on local supplies.

No. The cooling system doesn't draw water from the river or the ground. Water for the offices will come from the mains supply.

Rainwater will be managed on site through attenuation ponds, which hold water back and release it slowly, and wildlife-friendly filtration. The ponds also create new habitat as part of the landscaping.

The data centre is designed so that operational sound at the surrounding homes and other sensitive receptors is at the same level as the existing background sound.

Read the noise assessment in the planning documents.

The data centre is designed so operational sound matches the existing background level at nearby homes and other sensitive receptors, including All Saints Church.

• Screening from buildings, retaining walls, bunds, barriers and the natural topography
• Acoustic barriers around substation transformers
• Generators housed in containers with acoustic splitters on intakes and exhausts
• Rooftop cooling plant grouped in sixes inside large acoustic enclosures

An ecological impact assessment has been carried out using site surveys and data for the surrounding area. The survey found no evidence of protected species on site, and habitat suitability for them was limited.

No. The Ecological Impact Assessment concludes the data centre is not expected to have any ecological effect on nearby designated sites, including Harford Bridge Marshes County Wildlife Site, Depot Meadows County Wildlife Site and Marston Marshes Local Nature Reserve.

Read the Ecological Impact Assessment.

Both. Existing hedgerows, trees and woodland are retained and protected during construction and operation, and new planting and habitat creation will deliver over 13% biodiversity net gain.

No. The consented scheme has a gross internal area of about 28,000 m². The data centre proposal is about 25,000 m².

Yes, but not by much. The data centre is 19.4 m from slab level, against 12.4 m in the consented scheme, but its slab has been lowered to 14.15 m above Ordnance Datum (AOD). The top of the acoustic louvres sits at 33.55 m AOD, compared with 32.05 m AOD for the consented buildings: 1.5 m higher.

No. The landscape buffer is substantially wider than in the existing consent, giving greater screening. The proposal includes planting over 15,000 trees, including 580 semi-mature and super semi-mature trees, and more than 1.7 km of hedgerow. Earth bunds in key places give the tree screens extra height from day one.

In places. The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment identifies a moderate adverse visual effect from parts of Keswick and Eaton. The wider landscape buffer, earth bunds and new planting are designed to reduce this as the trees mature.

Read the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

Substantially less than the consented business park, with only minimal additional day-to-day traffic on Low Road and no significant effect on buses or school traffic.

Yes. The full package of access and off-site highway improvements agreed for the consented scheme will be delivered with the data centre.

Traffic will increase for a temporary period. It will be managed through a Construction Traffic Management Plan agreed with the Highway Authority.

Yes. The scheme sits wholly within the allocation area. Planning precedent, including Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State decisions, treats data centres as use class B8, which the allocation allows.

Yes. It would result in a new planning permission with new, enforceable conditions.

No formal approvals have been obtained. We have used South Norfolk Council's formal pre-application advice service, which is open to any developer.

There is no substantiated evidence that house prices would be directly affected. The site is already allocated and development has commenced under the existing consent.

The site already has an implemented consent and sits close to an upgraded National Grid supply.