Thank you to everyone who came to our community event on 14 October, and to everyone who has written to us since. This update covers how we plan to keep you informed, what happens next on the expanded surveys and modelling, and the dates to note. Our first surgery-style drop-in is at [b]The Golden Cross in Saunderton on Tuesday 10 November, from 4pm to 8pm[/b]. You can drop in, or email [[community@virtusdcs.com]] to book a slot. We’ll share dates for future surgery-style sessions in the coming weeks. We’re also setting up a community newsletter, with the first issue planned before the end of November. We’ll publish details on how to sign up in the near future. Two dates to keep in mind: 6 November is the deadline for suggesting extra locations for the expandedacoustic surveys and modelling, and 11 November is the deadline for nominating an independent third party to work with our consultants.

We have submitted an update to our Section 73 application (PL/25/6761/VRC) to remove the sound element. The rest of the application is unchanged, and the existing sound conditions remain in place while we carry out further surveys. Our full update sets out what happens next: how we will agree the scope of the new surveys and modelling, the extended deadline of 6th November for sharing additional locations, how the results will be published on the Community Hub, and the invitation for the community to nominate an independent third party by 11th November.

This is our full update following the community event on 14 October. It sets out what we have done on each action, what is still open, and when you will hear from us next. It also includes the results of the 2026 Community Development Programme vote.

Earlier this year, VIRTUS invited local groups across Bledlow Ridge, Saunderton and the surrounding villages to apply for funding through the VIRTUS Community Development Programme, our way of putting real money behind the things local people say matter most. We received a strong field of applications covering everything from environmental projects to school repairs, accessibility improvements and support for local community spaces. Each application was initially reviewed application against feasibility and the direct impact it would have locally, and from that process seven projects were shortlisted to go forward to a public vote. Rather than VIRTUS making the final call, we believe local people understand their community’s needs better than anyone else, so we put the decision directly in the hands of residents. Voting ran online from 5th to 15th October, with an additional opportunity to vote in person at our community event on 14th October. In total, 390 local people took part. [b]Here’s how the vote went:[/b]

This article contains some further visualisations of the completed Saunderton Campus from varying angles, including proposed night time views. VIRTUS are committed to landscaping and tree planting, which will soon be underway as the site progresses.

Thank you to everyone who came to the community event on 14 October, and to those who sent in questions. We have written up the key points raised and our responses in the meeting report, which you can download below. VIRTUS values your feedback on the project, on how we engage with residents and on how we can be a good long-term neighbour to the community. The report covers 15 topics, from the construction programme and traffic to landscaping, glazing, generators and the Molins buildings. For each one, it sets out what we heard, what we can tell you today and the actions we are taking.

Keeping our roads safe and encouraging courteous driving is important to us. If you witness poor driving behaviour near one of our building sites, we would appreciate you reporting it so that we can investigate and take any appropriate action. When submitting a report, please provide as much information as possible. Useful details include:

I live in a village not unlike the ones near some of our sites, so when I talk about data centres, I’m not speaking from a distant boardroom. I’m considering things from my personal perspective and thinking about the local communities, the people who live and work near them as well as the kind of future I would like for the next generation. In a world of streaming, online banking, digital GP appointments and AI tools that are becoming part of everyday life, data centres are the backbone that keeps it all running. They process, store and protect the information and systems that power modern life. Without enough of them here in the UK, we risk slower services, greater reliance on overseas providers, and a digital economy that feels less secure and less ours. These things are important to us all. Whether you’re watching a film on a Friday night, running a small business from home, or relying on hospital systems that need to stay online, data centres are critical to making these things work. They’re not abstract or new technology. They’re the reason the lights stay on for the digital part of life.

The Saunderton development will contribute approximately £20 million in planning-related funding over a ten-year period, supporting infrastructure, community facilities and local services across the area.

Community support often comes in unexpected forms. When Bledlow Ridge Cricket Club needed assistance removing waste following improvement works, VIRTUS arranged for its lorries to collect and remove the material, proving that being a good neighbour is often about practical support as much as financial investment.

More than half of the Saunderton site (around 25 acres) has been retained as natural habitat and open space. These areas are managed to enhance biodiversity, providing habitats for local wildlife and supporting a richer, more resilient natural ecosystem.

VIRTUS is proud to sponsor the ladies' and junior teams at Bledlow Ridge Cricket Club, helping to support participation, development and inclusivity within local sport.