Hollybush Technology Park would be located on brownfield land that was previously quarried and landfilled. The site now comprises bare earth or recently restored open pasture and lies close to the motorway network, with a line of high voltage power cables passing over the southern part of the site. It also lies close to areas of woodland, some of which is ancient.

Protecting the existing landscape features, and sensitively integrating our proposal into them, is a highly important part of our plans. Below, you can see our landscape plan, outlining how our proposal would sit within the surrounding landscape once completed.

Below: Our landscape plan for Hollybush Technology Park. You can click on the image to open it at full size.

The site is already well contained by mature trees, with limited views into it from surrounding areas. The landscape masterplan sensitively integrates the proposed buildings into the surrounding context by carefully positioning them within the open areas of the site, and by protecting and retaining the surrounding existing woodland and hedges along Hollybush Lane.

Planted areas at least 15m wide will be provided next to the ancient woodland. These areas will be planted with native tree species and meadow, kept undisturbed, and at night will be maintained as dark areas to minimise disturbance on wildlife within the woods. Additionally, new woodland at least 20m wide will be planted along the eastern edge of the site (bordering Hollybush Lane) to strengthen this boundary. Ecological green links will also be strengthened with new woodland planting in the central area of the site, linking Gladwin’s Wood across to Hollybush Lane and beyond.

Surrounding the data centres, a landscape of wet and dry meadows will be created. This will integrate sustainable urban drainage features, including planted swales and rainwater attenuation ponds which will store water after heavy rain, before slowly discharging it from the site at greenfield runoff rates.

The technology park will be secure, surrounded by 3m-high mesh fences which will be discreetly located behind the perimeter tree belts and will not be visible or detract from the character of Hollybush Lane. Outside of the fence line, the landscape treatment will focus on creating ecologically rich habitats of wet and dry meadow and woodland which will be managed to enhance their value for nature and wildlife.

The existing public bridleway and footpath will be retained. New planting will be provided to filter views from these routes towards the data centres.

Ecology

Extensive survey work is ongoing to ensure the proposals comply with ecological legislation and planning policy. The aim of ecological survey work is to determine the presence or likely-absence of protected species and habitats at the site. Survey results will feed into a detailed ecological mitigation and enhancement strategy with a focus on maintaining the conservation status of protected species and habitats recorded at the site. 

We have submitted what is known as a Request for EIA Scoping Opinion to Buckinghamshire Council. This is a formal request to the Council to understand the scope required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will be submitted alongside the application. You can view this submission and the associated scoping report on Buckinghamshire Council’s planning portal using reference PL/26/08463/EIASO

The proposed new buildings will be largely shielded from surrounding areas by the new and existing tree planting, in particular the tall trees (greater than 20m in height) along the northern and eastern boundaries of the site.

Below, you can see a set of “cross-section” diagrams, highlighting how the proposed buildings would be shielded from view at 3 different locations in the surrounding area. You can click on the image to open it at full size.