The breakneck speed at which IT is developed is incredible. The vast ‘internet of things’, a curious and vague description of the data sharing and capturing software in a staggering number of goods, from cars & phones to watches and fridges, is creating an unquantifiable mass of data, stored in invisible, virtual ‘clouds’.

But there’s the kicker. Data storage is not virtual. Data is compressed and stored on servers –  very physical machines, with wires and whirring fans that require space and cooling.

The trouble is, planning departments aren’t moving at pace with the growing amount of data centres being built.

Robert Thorogood, Chief Technical Officer at Hurley Palmer Flatt, explains this issue over on Datacentre Dynamics.