The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) will on Wednesday assess plans from national data company NEXTDC for a six-storey, 34 metre building on the southwest corner of Pirie and Frome Street.

The 1580sqm plot of land was the long-time home of Volleyball SA and the city beach volleyball courts, but was sold off by the Adelaide City Council last year despite significant public backlash.

First flagged in February 2022 at an initial cost of $100 million, NEXTDC’s Adelaide data centre plan is primarily comprised of large storage spaces, or “data halls”, which will take up 2916sqm from levels one to five of the proposed building.

Revised plans for a six-storey data centre at 211 Pirie St. Image: Hames Sharley/NEXTDC

The storage space will be supported by 610sqm of ancillary office space.

State government planning officer Karl Woehle has recommended the SCAP approve the development.

“The proposed data centre and ancillary office use aligns with the envisaged land-uses of the Capital City Zone and should provide sufficient activation to the public realm as sought by the Zone,” Woehle wrote in his report to the SCAP.

A view of the six-storey data centre from Frome St, looking south.  Image: Hames Sharley/NEXTDC

“The overall design and appearance of the proposal is considered visually cohesive and reflects a material palette that is robust and fit for purpose.”

NEXTDC’s Adelaide data centre was initially slated to be 11-storeys but was revised down to six following “feasibility reviews” and advice from the state’s Planning Department and Office for Design and Architecture.

NEXTDC management told shareholders at its annual general meeting last month that it expects to begin development on its Adelaide data centre this financial year.

Planning consultants Urbis, on behalf of NEXTDC, argued the redevelopment of the vacant beach volleyball courts would be a “significant improvement to the local architectural character”.

“While a non-traditional commercial use, the data-centre operations will contribute positively to the city’s economic development while activating a key street corner within the city’s east-end precinct,” Urbis director Jane Kelly and senior consultant James Woolway wrote.

“Architecturally, the proposal responds positively to its surrounding context while also providing a modest landmark building on a prominent intersection.”

Urbis also argued the development was a “high-quality architectural response… in an area characterised by buildings of limited architectural merit”.

“The design of the building is respectful of the local context in its scale and provides an engaging pedestrian experience at a key gateway location,” the firm said.

But Government Architect Kirsteen Mackay expressed concern about the proposed land use for the Pirie Street site, despite acknowledging the “limited scope for streetscape activation and complex technical and structural requirements”.

“I acknowledge the design team’s endeavours to create activation opportunities where possible and articulated facades,” Mackay wrote in her submission to Woehle’s planning report.

“Notwithstanding, I remain concerned by the impact of the largely inactive land use on the vitality of the city centre.

“In my view, the building scale also limits the ability to deliver a corner landmark building on this prominent and significant city site.”

A view of NEXTDC’s proposed data centre from the ground. Image: Hames Sharley/NEXTDC

NEXTDC’s Adelaide data centre plan represents its first venture into South Australia. The ASX-listed firm already has data centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

The company is expected to provide data centre services to the South Australian Government and house “mission critical operation centres, business continuity offices [and] training and collaboration spaces”.