Blackstone's QTS Abandons $22M Data Centre Project in Virginia
Blackstone's QTS has terminated its Digital Gateway data centre project in Virginia, following a long-standing legal battle. The project, approved in December 2023, aimed to create one of the world's largest data centre campuses, spanning 2,000 acres. The decision comes after a court ruling declared the rezoning approvals void due to a notice failure.
Key points
- Blackstone's QTS has terminated its Digital Gateway data centre project in Prince William County, Virginia.
- The project aimed to create 22 million square feet of data centre space on 2,000 acres.
- A court ruling declared the rezoning approvals void due to a notice failure.
- The Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the rezoning in December 2023, but the decision was challenged by two plaintiffs.
- The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in March, leading to the project's termination.
Blackstone's QTS has abandoned its ambitious Digital Gateway data centre project in Virginia, following a long and contentious legal battle. The project, approved in December 2023, aimed to create one of the world's largest data centre campuses, spanning 2,000 acres near Gainesville and Manassas, adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.
The project's fate was sealed after a court ruling declared the rezoning approvals void due to a notice failure. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the rezoning on a narrow margin after a 27-hour public hearing, but the decision was challenged by two separate plaintiffs, the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust.
The Virginia Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the ruling in March, leading to the project's termination. QTS, the data centre operator owned by Blackstone, has withdrawn the legal filings that were keeping the project alive. The decision marks a significant setback for the data centre industry in Virginia, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.
The project's termination is a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in large-scale infrastructure development. As the world continues to rely on data centres to support its digital infrastructure, the need for careful planning and regulatory oversight will only continue to grow.
Sources
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