UK-based data centre developer SUB1 plans to commence construction on its 38 MVA Birmingham data centre project this August.

The site, which is 2.64 acres in size and currently comprises one two-storey building of roughly 3,660 sqm, is located within Windsor Industrial’s site at 35 Aston Cross Business Park, in England.

SUB1 has purchased the land, secured power – equal to 29 MW of IT load – and received all required permissions for this project, according to CEO Dominic Rumsey.

Energisation for the West Midlands site is expected from mid-2027 but SUB1 is still working with National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) to firm up the timescale.

At present, offtake discussions are being held with potentially interested parties, according to Rumsey.

As reported in March 2025, Boultbee Brooks Real Estate invested an unknown amount into SUB1 in order to support expansion plans, including the Birmingham project. Boultbee is said to be a ‘very active’ lender, providing expertise as well as financing.

In January, SUB1 received approval from Birmingham City Council for its proposal to change the use of an existing office building located in Aston into a data centre.

Savills has been mandated as agent, as per the application.

In addition to its Birmingham-based project, SUB1 is also pushing ahead with several other developments, including a site in North London.

“Our first project is currently under contract, while our second project is set to be announced shortly if it also doesn’t go under contract,” Rumsey said.

The largest project SUB1 has developed to date, is a 60 MW site on behalf of an existing private equity client. Typically, the developer focused on sites between 20 MW and 50 MW.

“We’re focusing on speed and cost efficiencies to differentiate from the larger players,” Rumsey explained. “If we’re putting in massive applications, paying for grid reinforcements, and waiting for it to be played out then that’s a much more crowded space.”

On the design side, Rumsey said that the company keeps things as flexible as possible to appeal to different client demands. Once at powered shall stage, SUB1 will look to offer the asset for lease or sale to proprietary clients.

As for geographies of interest, SUB1 is exploring projects within the UK and Nordics, with a special interest in Finland given that opportunities are become more difficult to come by in Sweden.

“Finland offers more opportunity because it hasn’t been the location of choice compared to Norway and Sweden due to it having different rules on acquiring power and power purchase agreements (PPA),” he said.

“The government requires developers to have PPA’s secured immediately in order to approve builds,” he explained. “So, because of this, there’s been less going on there but it’s just as attractive from a power availability/power cost perspective.”

In general, the developer is focused on locations that offer existing pockets of power, with a power first and property second outlook, Rumsey said.