Proximity Data Centres Edge 7 Swindon

Colo-X analysis

Proximity’s Edge 7 Swindon data centre is a 7MW, 2000-rack, Tier 3-standard data centre. It was originally opened by Cap Gemini in 2010 and was acquired by Proximity in September 2021. This site was paired by Cap Gemini with their data centre in Bristol, which is now also part of Proximity as Edge 9.

This site is a huge warehouse of 90,000 sq ft with several BladeRoom modules installed by Cap. These self-contained pods are designed to offer an ultra-low PUE of 1.1 and are essentially each a data centre within the envelope of the warehouse. The installation has been awarded a Tier 3 certification by the Uptime Institute.

The remaining space within the building offers huge potential given its size. We await plans from Proximity as to how they will realise this, either with as a tranditional data-centre fit-out or with the continued use of the modular approach.

Colo-X has long struggled to provide a solution to smaller retail clients needing a data centre in the South West. This is because the previously best-placed options, such as Vantage Newport or Ark Corsham, are wholesale data centres seeking to sell huge capacity to the very largest users, and are simply unsuitable for smaller buyers. The Proximity Edge 7 Swindon data centre and its Edge 9 Bristol data centre look well placed to fill this void in the market.

Through partners, Proximity will offer fully inclusive rack and part-rack colocation solutions, offering network and on-site support as standard.

Proximity Data Centres Edge 7 Swindon facility description

Proximity’s Edge 7 Swindon data centre on the South Marston Industrial Estate is around 4 miles north east of the city centre, and around 6 miles due north of junction 15 of the M4. The location is also just north of the massive former Honda factory, which ceased production in 2021.

The data centre was originally opened by Cap Gemini in October 2010 and known as Merlin, with a construction concept based around the deployment of 250 sq m modules built off-site by BladeRoom. These were designed to offer an ultra-low PUE of 1.1 and offer the benefit of very short lead times for additional capcaity.

This site was paired by Cap Gemini with their Bristol List X data centre (now Proximity Edge 9). Cap Gemini were also awarded a Tier 3 Certification for the design concept of the first four modules.

The site itself is supported by two diversely routed 7MVA power supplies to the on-site dedicated transformer. This can be expanded to 14MVA if required.

As of January 2023, it is not yet known if Proximity will be continuing with the BladeRoom concept when they add further capacity to the site, or whether a more traditional data centre fit out will be adopted.

The aquisition of this Bristol data centre shows Proximity continuing their progress as a fast-growing UK regional data-centre operator. They had 10 sites available across the country at the start of 2023, but there are apparently more to come as Proximity have a stated target of 20.

Technical stats