Brentwood Chamber Newsletter - Reef Shares Vision for Major Data Centre in Havering

At a recent Brentwood Chamber Committee meeting, Reef presented an ambitious vision for Havering: the East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC). Representing a monumental £14.7 billion private investment, this project is set to become a massive engine for local and national economic growth and will start soon.

The EHDCC will deliver next-generation hyper-scale digital infrastructure designed to power cloud computing, AI, and machine learning. The scale of the development promises a profound economic impact, predicting to create 330 jobs per year locally during its 21-year construction phase and establishing 620 permanent, high-value operational roles. Once fully operational, the campus is projected to inject £281 million annually into the local economy.

Beyond technology, the campus champions a groundbreaking "circular industry" model. It will feature an integrated commercial horticulture facility spanning 50,000 square meters, utilising the data centre’s waste heat to produce thousands of tonnes of tomatoes and cucumbers annually. The masterplan also includes a 113-hectare Ecology Park, exceeding statutory biodiversity net gain targets.

This major initiative signals immense cross-borough opportunities for local supply chains and the business community.

Read the full newsletter here - Brentwood Chamber June 2026 Newsletter