An application could be approved by Cherwell District Council, the planning authority, to build a 104,008 sq m data centre in Graven Hill, next door to St Davids Barracks.

After outline planning permission was granted in October 2023 with 47 conditions, the application was submitted in December 2025.

The proposed development comprises eight data centre buildings, each designed to accommodated IT infrastructure with a maximum utility capacity of 435MW – roughly the same power as one million homes.

Each data centre, which would have backup power generation facilities, is designed to accommodate computing infrastructure, which has an IT capacity of 290MW.

There would also be a substation to the southwest of the site.

Proposed site plan at Graven Hill data centre (Image: Atelier Gooch)

The site was formerly used by the Ministry of Defence for storage and distribution purposes dating back to 1942.

If approved, it is anticipated that between 500 and 800 jobs will be created once the site is fully operational with half of these position expected to be remote.

READ MORE: Plans proposed for an eight-bedroom HMO in Bicester

Unlike a typical warehouse, data centres are full of servers that store digital ‘cloud’ services, which use large amounts of power and generate a substantial amount of heat.

The growth of Information Technology infrastructure services, such as ‘cloud’ computing, have expanded at pace with data centres at the core.

Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 recognised data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure’ to enable the development of technology industries.

However, key issues raised by the Graven Hill Resident’s Association include power, cooling, water and heat reuse, as well as noise.

One of the biggest issues to developing Bicester has been ensuring sufficient electricity supply can meet the demands of the growing town, with a number of sites previously stalled as there is no National Grid capacity, developers say.

This problem is only expected to get worse with estimates that the UK’s total electricity demand will rise by 50 per cent in 10 years.

Birds eye view of the Graven Hill data centre (Image: Atelier Gooch)

The data centres are cooled using a combination of mechanical coolers and free cooling, which uses little water, but the latter is insufficient around 40 per cent of the year.

A noise and vibration assessment at 10 locations around Graven Hill showed acceptable levels but locations closest showed an adverse impact.

Additionally, as the electric energy turns into heat, this could be used to warm nearby homes. While this was mentioned as a possibility, there has been no other initiatives.

Other concerns include about employment, planning processes, lighting and ecology.

Cherwell District Council is expected to make a decision today (Friday, April 10).

Genetec will showcase its security technology with Convergint and Axis Communications at The Security Event in Birmingham, with a display focused on cloud, AI and unified security platforms.

Visitors to the Genetec stand will see its unified platform, cloud-enabled architecture and a wider range of supported devices and workflows. The company will also share a partner stand with Convergint and Axis Communications, focused on integrated security systems.

The announcement places Genetec among a group of suppliers using the Birmingham event to present new products and partnership models to security installers, consultants and end users in the UK. For physical security suppliers, the event is a venue to meet channel partners and customers as buyers weigh cloud migration, system integration and the use of AI in operational settings.

Montreal-based Genetec sells software for video management, access control and automatic number plate recognition, as well as intrusion detection, intercom and digital evidence management. It says it serves more than 42,500 customers in more than 159 countries through a network of channel partners and consultants.

Partner focus

The joint stand with Convergint and Axis Communications reflects the importance of alliances in the security sector, where software, cameras, access systems and services are often sold and installed as part of broader projects. Integrators and manufacturers have increasingly emphasised interoperability as organisations seek to connect older equipment with newer cloud-based tools rather than replace systems entirely.

That approach has become more prominent as customers look for ways to modernise estates across offices, industrial sites, public spaces and critical infrastructure. In many cases, buyers want software-led systems that can pull in data from multiple devices while allowing staged upgrades over time.

The exhibition will highlight modern system architectures and how newer technologies are changing the security market. It will also address practical uses for those systems, including workflows that bring together separate parts of physical security operations.

Convergint, a major systems integrator, described the event as a chance to discuss how the market is changing. “The security industry is evolving rapidly, with increasing demand for integrated, scalable, and intelligence-led solutions. At Convergint, we’re focused on working with leading partners like Genetec and Axis to help our customers navigate this shift-bringing together physical security, data, and cloud capabilities to deliver smarter, more resilient environments. Events like The Security Event are a great opportunity to share insight, showcase innovation, and connect with the people shaping the future of our industry,” said David Palmer, UK Commercial Leader at Convergint.

UK market

The UK security market has seen sustained interest in platforms that combine video surveillance, access control and analytics, especially where operators want central oversight across multiple sites. Vendors argue that unified systems can reduce management complexity, though customers still face questions around integration costs, cyber security, data governance and procurement cycles.

AI has become a growing part of that discussion, particularly in video analysis and event management. Security providers are positioning AI tools as a way to filter large volumes of alerts, identify anomalies and improve response times, while buyers and regulators continue to scrutinise accuracy, bias and the handling of personal data.

Cloud adoption is another area of debate across the sector. Some users are moving workloads to the cloud to simplify remote management and updates, while others continue to favour hybrid models that keep parts of the infrastructure on site for resilience, compliance or cost reasons.

Genetec expects the event to help deepen ties with its partner channel and customer base. “The Security Event is an unmatched opportunity for us to engage with our channel partners, integrators, consultants, and end users. We look forward to strengthening industry relationships, holding meaningful conversations, and uncovering new opportunities,” said Nicholas Smith, Regional Sales Director UK & Ireland at Genetec.

The vases, expected to fetch up to £1,000, are being sold by Banbury auctioneers Holloways on April 15.

They were bought in 1947 by Leonard Barker at a country house auction in Oxford, and have remained in the family ever since.

Eileen Hancock, Mr Barker’s daughter, said: “I’m not sure why he bought them.

“He wasn’t a collector or dealer, and I think he just liked them.

“I don’t know what he paid for them but, knowing my dad, he would have got them for a good price.”

Ms Hancock, 92, kept the vases in her Chipping Norton home after her mother Edith passed away in 1994.

The vases, believed to date from around 1900, stand almost half a metre tall.

She said: “I don’t know how much longer I’ve got left and I don’t want them to get chucked away or lost.

“I would prefer them to go to someone who can cherish them as I have done.”

Jasper Marsh, director at Holloways, said: “My job is all about memories – making new ones and remembering old ones.

“That wonderful 1940s photo of Eileen’s family with her brother Ronnie cradling the vase brings it to life like nothing else.

“We are delighted and proud to be selling the vases and sending them on their next chapter.”