SAVILLS Capital returns accelerate when you avoid lengthy planning battles and multi-year construction programmes. There are environmental benefits too, which matter increasingly to sustainability-conscious investors.
“ If we can repurpose these buildings in a more sustainable manner, it’ s a far quicker route to market,” Marc says. Not every legacy facility is right for refurbishment, but the ones that are offer an attractive route for certain investors.
Commissioning and operational transition Savills’ involvement extends well beyond site acquisition and planning. The team works through construction, commissioning and even into live operations. Modern data centres don’ t really have a defined endpoint where construction ceases.
“ The construction in these buildings never actually stops,” Marc explains. Operators continually upgrade technology inside live facilities. That means construction crews working carefully around operational equipment worth millions of dollars.
It requires a different mindset than traditional build projects; you can’ t just cordon off an area and make noise and dust. Life safety systems must remain operational. Temperature and humidity need constant control. One mistake could crash servers handling critical workloads.
86 January 2026