*Artist Impression - Wetland Discovery 

Reef Origin welcomes the launch of the public consultation on the East Havering Data Centre

The consultation will run from 6 March to 7 April 2026, allowing residents and stakeholders to review the documents and provide feedback before a final LDO decision.

The East Havering Data Centre campus, Ecology Park project will deliver thousands of local jobs, a new public green space, and new digital infrastructure to support the local and wider UK economy.

The proposals include an extensive 113-hectare Ecology Park (roughly equivalent to 174 football pitches), which we want to deliver together with the community using local insights to help inform our final designs so that we can create an inviting, public open space that is fully accessible through new footpath and cycling routes.

The scheme will be situated on the boundary of Havering and Thurrock, to the east of the M25, and will deliver up to 400,000 square meters of data centre space, battery storage, horticulture, and educational facilities, with low-latency connectivity suitable for data-intensive applications such as cloud, AI, and financial trading, alongside robust physical and cyber security infrastructure to protect data centre operations.

During development, the project is expected to support 330 job-years per year, totaling 1,340 across the UK. Once fully operational, it will create 620 new and sustained full-time permanent jobs in Havering, including 350 high-value roles in the information and communication sector. Across the UK workforce, the project will support 1,780 jobs once fully operational. Beyond job creation, the project will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and investment, benefiting the wider local community

News & Updates

Events History

2026

10 February

FoundHer Networking

Meeting

22 January

Havering SME Network

Evening Session


2025

12 December

Holiday Inn Brentwood

Meeting

20 November

London Borough of Havering

Meeting with DWP & Jobcentre Plus

5 November

London Borough of Havering

Empowering SME Growth Network

30 October

London Borough of Havering

Havering Chamber of Commerce

8 September

Riverside

BID AGM

16 July

CEME

Careers Guidance Event for Students & Parents

10 July

BID

Summer Social (Afternoon)

10 July

Hornchurch High School

Careers Fair (Morning)

12 June

CEME

Buyer & SME Supplier Roundtable

5 June

Havering MIND – Sarah Balser

Engagement Meeting (Afternoon)

5 June

CEME

Buyer & SME Supplier Roundtable (Morning)

29 May

Rainham BID

Directors Meeting (Afternoon)

29 May

CEME

Buyer & SME Supplier Roundtable (Morning)

20 March

London Borough of Havering

The Mayor’s Network Event

20 March

London Borough of Havering

Keep It Local Event

13 & 27 March

Local London

Teacher Encounters Events

12 February

New City College

Employer Event


2024

17 December

Harris Rainham Secondary School

Moving On Fair

2 December

New City College

A-Level Geography Workshop

15 November

Bower Park Academy (Empower Learning Academy Trust)

Careers Fair

30 October

Havering Youth Parliament

Engagement Presentation

23 October

Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Small Business Showcase


2021

30 November

Havering Volunteer Centre

Supportive; sees opportunities for elderly digital inclusion and youth volunteering; will re-engage once proposals further developed.

19 November

Julia Lopez MP

Positive on local/national benefits; stressed need for traffic mitigation and environmental links; requested business rate figures and follow-up meeting.

9 November

Thames Chase Community Forest

Opposed to Green Belt development but open to review once detailed plans available; requested outline and ecology park discussions.

8 November

Youth Unity

Supportive; want youth needs and deprivation addressed; further youth engagement and consultation planned.

19 October

South Hornchurch Independent Residents’ Group

Cautious support dependent on mitigating traffic, transport, drainage, and visual impact; requested refined proposals and second meeting.

15 October

New City College (NCC)

Foundry can support student training, start-ups, and recruitment; opportunities to track digital skills, develop Romford “pop-up,” and align with local events.

12 October

Havering Chamber of Commerce (HCCI)

Strong support; Foundry seen as opportunity to grow digital skills/events; plans to present to members, strengthen links, and consider member survey.

8 October

Royal Forces Employment Charity (RFEA)

TechVets programme identified as key for funding and digital skills; follow-up meetings arranged with leadership and need to confirm veteran numbers locally.

5 October

Havering BID (Romford)

Supportive of hub idea for High Street; keen to involve businesses; Digital Reef to share details ahead of BID AGM; BID to link with Havering Means Business.

5 October

Upminster & Cranham Residents’ Group

Councillors welcomed early engagement but want clarity on jobs, power source, visuals, and site; proposals sensitive due to Green Belt and May 2022 elections; coordination with Lower Thames Crossing required.

4 October

YMCA

Supportive of digital training/adult education; further engagement needed on YMCA-specific projects and Community Reef funding.

Show your support

Digital Reef is keen to hear from residents, businesses and organisations who want to show their support and stay up to date with the plans. Click the button to register for updates.

info@easthaveringdatacentrecampus.com

Tel: +44 (0) 844 556 3002