Shares of Rotherham-based land developer Harworth Group plc rose about 5% on Wednesday after it published a trading update for the six months ended June 30, 2026, in which it said it has “identified a second site in its current portfolio of powered land that can deliver a hyperscale data centre.”
Harworth said: “Following on from Harworth’s first hyperscale data centre transaction, a £106.6m land sale to Microsoft in 2024, the group is confirming today that it has identified a second site in its current portfolio of powered land that can deliver a hyperscale data centre.
“Harworth has entered advanced negotiations with several counterparties for the sale of the site, which benefits from planning consent and power connections, and has the potential to deliver total value gains which would be ahead of the group’s first hyperscale data centre transaction.
“This opportunity underscores the embedded value in Harworth’s 0.8GW power-enabled land bank that is still to be realised or reflected in the group’s current EPRA NDV.
“Beyond this transaction, there are further potential hyperscale data centre opportunities within the group’s current portfolio, as well as smaller-scale digital infrastructure projects across its sites, including colocation facilities and edge providers.
“Harworth has previously announced its intention to position its portfolio to 85% industrial & logistics – and thereby reduce its residential exposure to below 15% – by 2029, and has made good progress towards this goal, achieving a 70% weighting at the end of 2025.
“Due to the scale and strength of opportunities across its industrial & logistics and powered land pipeline, with growing occupier interest, Harworth is now accelerating its reallocation of capital to higher returning opportunities aligned to powered land and industrial growth sectors.”
Harworth CEO Lynda Shillaw said: “Harworth specialises in unlocking land at scale, with planning and power secured, and this is key to capturing high-returning development opportunities across the data centre and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“Our second data centre opportunity that we are highlighting today underlines Harworth’s position as one of the most significant regional players in the rollout of the UK’s digital infrastructure, working with some of the largest operators in the industry.
“In addition to these opportunities, we have seen strong momentum across our sales and lettings pipeline during the first half and into the second, including the first letting at our 1.1m sq ft Chatterley Park site, to an advanced manufacturer, and a further letting to a national logistics operator at our well-established Gateway 36 development.
“With our unique skillset, extensive land bank and 0.8GW of power connections across our portfolio either conditionally secured or in the pipeline, we are well positioned to accelerate our reallocation of capital to powered land and industrial growth sectors. This in turn will create a simpler, higher-returning platform to deliver sustainable future growth.”