Plans to sell land at Wycombe Air Park to create a data centre have taken a step closer after film studio proposals were abandoned.

Proposals have been brought forward to sell part of the council-owned site, known as Site A, for a data centre, in collaboration with the tenant, Wycombe Park Limited.

If approved, council officers would be authorised to market the site and exchange contracts, with any final sale still requiring cabinet sign-off.

Another plot of land, known as ‘Site C’ could also be sold off in future – though the council would also need to approve this.

Council papers say selling the land could bring in a significant one-off payment for the authority, raising more money than the council had initially budgeted for.

Despite this however, the expected income would still be less than was first hoped due to ‘market conditions’ and delays linked to planning and power supply.

Plans for a data centre at the airfield first emerged last year after the council confirmed that proposals for Wycombe Film Studios had been dropped.

The developer said at the time that the scheme was no longer viable due to changes in the market.

How data centres could look (Image: LEAD Studio)

A planning application for the data centre has already been submitted and is due to be considered by the council’s Strategic Sites Planning Committee in early 2026.

The development would rely on a large new power connection, which is still subject to national reforms that could affect when electricity can be delivered to the site.

Council officers say that if planning permission and power arrangements are agreed early next year, the council could receive the money from the land sale during the 2026/27 financial year.

The report stresses that the council would still have the final say on whether to proceed with any sale.

It also sets out minimum price thresholds and explains that the tenant would be able to recover certain costs already spent on the site if a deal goes ahead.

Concerns have already been raised locally about the impact of a large data centre on water supply and infrastructure.

Officers acknowledge that such developments use significant amounts of power and water, but say these issues would be considered through the planning process, with measures put in place to limit the impact.

The council says that bringing forward a data centre could create jobs in construction, maintenance and the technology sector, while delivering a large cash boost to help fund projects across Buckinghamshire.

Much of the financial and legal detail underpinning the proposals is contained in confidential appendices to the report and has not been made public.