Checklist for prospective investors
Can Marseille solve France’s data centre bottlenecks?
France is facing rising demand for data capacity and severe pressure on its traditional hubs. In Paris, rising demand for space and power is tightening available supply. So where should the next wave of investment land? Many are now eyeing Marseille.
But success here requires foresight and smart execution. Here's what high-tech clients should be thinking about:
1
Choose your site with care
Marseille is France’s biggest landing point for undersea cables. It links directly to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. That makes it a strong global gateway. But cables alone won’t future-proof your build.
Investors must factor in grid access and availability, cooling methods in a warm climate, and how to manage flood risk. An experienced consultant can benchmark these factors against your targets and help balance uptime, cost and resilience.
Case study
Unlocking growth in a new data centre hub
A global technology company is building a major data centre campus just outside Milan, Italy. Designed for performance, resilience and sustainability, with serious planned power capacity.
Milan is fast becoming a hotspot for data centre investment. But growth markets come with complexity, from permits and power to connectivity, incentives and access to skilled labour. Getting the basics right, early, is critical.
That’s where we come in. We bring global data centre expertise and firsthand local market experience. As cost consultant, we use data to benchmark costs, test options and flag risks early — so decisions are clear, timely and based on evidence.
The result? Greater visibility from day one, and greater confidence as delivery begins.
2
Secure power early
France’s grid is under strain. In Marseille, delays are still possible. Start talks with energy providers early, and keep them regular. Work closely with permitting teams to move through approvals at speed. An energy specialist can secure connections. They can test hybrid options, like rooftop solar and seawater cooling. They can also plan hydrogen ready systems where this adds value.
In our recent Paris projects, early grid and utilities advice cut delays. It also met technical needs from day one. This gave our clients the certainty to proceed with confidence.
3
Know the rules
Planning rules in France can slow you down, especially in fast-growing regions like Marseille. Environmental checks, heritage protections and pushback from local councils can all cause problems if missed early.
The answer? Get local cost advice, fast. Early-stage cost and regulatory advice can flag planning and environmental risks, guide you through the rules and help you build trust with local stakeholders.
That means fewer delays, fewer surprises and no need to redraw your plans halfway through.
4
Tap into local strengths
Marseille may not yet rival Paris or Lyon for data centre talent, but it has something just as valuable, an industrial backbone. The city’s workforce is skilled in logistics, pharmaceuticals and defence, with many capabilities that transfer well to digital infrastructure.
Smart teams will make use of that. By pulling from nearby industries, they can staff builds and operations with flexibility, keep costs steady and stay ahead of schedule.
5
Build to scale without the setbacks
Land availability in Marseille is more constrained than in some regional markets. As a result, developers are increasingly considering brownfield sites and adaptive reuse, rather than large greenfield plots.
Marseille’s terrain, climate and zoning rules all need careful thought.
The solution? Design with the future in mind. Modular layouts, passive cooling and early planning approvals can help you grow faster and cleaner.
A joined-up approach to testing layout, power demand and cooling assumptions early helps projects stay within energy limits, avoid late-stage changes and protect programme certainty.
Early scalability and energy modelling reduce risk and avoid costly redesigns.
Upfront coordination can cut design changes by 5–10% and lower long-term energy demand by 5% or more.