Ark Data Centres has acquired Renault Retail Group’s West London showroom, and plans to convert the site into a data center.

Construction on the facility at Western Avenue, Park Royal, will begin in 2022. Renault, which has occupied the building since the 1930s, will continue to operate at the 92,000 square foot (8,550 sq m) building in the meantime.

(P)Ark Royal... another flagship?

“We are very happy to conclude this sale to Ark which opens an exciting new future representation opportunity in West London for Renault Retail Group and our customers, whilst maintaining our business over the next two years from our current home ensuring our customers' purchase and maintenance needs are met," Renault Retail Group UK MD Ludovic Troyes said.

Set on a five-acre plot of land, the data center will be powered by renewable electricity, via power purchase agreements.

“Ark is delighted to have been able to acquire this site from Renault Retail Group," Ark Data Centres CEO Huw Owen said.

"Our customers have an expectation for us to be both socially responsible, as well as provide best-in-class, market-leading data centers in the locations where we can have the greatest impact. This new exciting acquisition of Park Royal, our third in London, not only supports Ark’s own sustainability commitments but also empowers the customers we serve by helping them to honor their own carbon reduction goals.”

2022 will also see Ark launch its flagship London data center in Union Park, Hayes. The facility will use on-site solar for some of its power needs, and gas generators as an alternative to diesel.

The company has close connections to the public sector, most notably entering into a joint venture with the Cabinet Office to form Crown Hosting Data Centres to offer colocation to government bodies.