QTS, owned by Blackstone, has terminated its plans to build the Digital Gateway data centre project in Prince William County, Virginia.
The company has withdrawn the associated legal filings, marking the end of a proposal that had generated significant controversy and legal action over several years.
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The planned Digital Gateway campus was intended to cover more than 800 acres as part of a larger 2,100-acre site near Gainesville and Manassas, located near the historic Manassas National Battlefield Park.
It was set to become one of the world’s largest data centre campuses, with more than 22 million square feet of proposed data centre space, reported TNW.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the rezoning of the site for the project in December 2023 after a 27-hour public hearing and a closely contested vote.
Following the approval, the initiative faced immediate legal challenges. The Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust filed lawsuits alleging that county officials had not provided proper public notice prior to the vote.
In addition to legal opposition, residents and campaigners criticised the potential impact of the project on local land, water, and electricity resources, as well as its proximity to a historic Civil War battlefield.
QTS had previously said the Digital Gateway project would generate substantial local tax revenue, lead to capital investment, and create several long-term jobs in Prince William County.
Industry expansion in the region has increasingly drawn the scrutiny of local communities and policymakers, who have raised concerns about the environmental and resource impacts of large-scale data centre development.
Last month, Digital Realty agreed to acquire Blackstone’s equity interests in three fully leased data centres in Northern Virginia, at a gross portfolio value of $7.8bn.
The deal between Digital Realty and Blackstone-affiliated funds managed by Real Estate, Infrastructure and Tactical Opportunities includes facilities with a combined IT capacity of 288MW.
