Montgomery County · Upper Merion · MCPC #26-0063-001
411 Swedeland Road - Data Center
411 Swedeland Road, Upper Merion, PA · 1,677,800 sq ft non-residential, data center · 141.87 acres
About this project
A data center complex will replace the former GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical facility at 411 Swedeland Road. The developer will construct four 2-story data center buildings with offices, two central utility plants, and associated infrastructure totaling 1.7 million square feet on the 141.87-acre site.
County planning commission: Raises serious concerns
Issues raised: Does not comply with township's newly adopted data center ordinance, Special Exception required for data center use determination, Will Serve letters needed for public water and wastewater, Partial property in R-1 residential district with adjacent homes on Jones Road, Data centers not anticipated in Comprehensive Plan; additional standards needed, Five related data center proposals in area total 4.6+ million square feet
- Applicant
- Innovation 411 Fee Owner LLC
- Engineer / rep.
- Edward B. Walsh & Associates, Inc.
- Zoning
- LI and HI
- Cross street
- Renaissance Blvd & Jones Rd
- Approvals needed
- Special Exception for data center use, Will Serve letters for public water and wastewater
- Utilities
- public water, public sewer
- Demolition
- All existing structures on the site including the former GlaxoSmithKline complex (office, laboratory, manufacturing, research facilities), parking areas, closed quarries/landfills, helipad, and sports courts
Filing history
- 2026-03-12 · MCPC #26-0063-001 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 1,677,800 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
A data center complex is proposed for the 141.87-acre former GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical campus at 411 Swedeland Road in Upper Merion. The plan has four 2-story data center buildings with offices and two central utility plants. In total it is about 1.7 million square feet.
The site is now a pharmaceutical and life-sciences campus. News coverage says GSK still operates there as a tenant. The site is one of five data center sites proposed by the developer MLP Ventures in the township.
The proposal drew strong resident opposition at public meetings. In August 2026 the township supervisors voted to deny extensions and preliminary plans for all five sites. The developer then sued the township. No occupant was identified in the sources found.
What it could mean nearby
- Residents who spoke at public meetings opposed the data centers. Coverage does not give a full list of their concerns.
- A March 2026 township ordinance tightened data center rules on noise, energy and water use, building size and height, and buffers.
- The records do not say how many jobs, how much traffic or what road changes the project would bring.
Where it stands
The township supervisors denied the plans in August 2026, and the developer has sued over the review process and an extension. The case is in court, so the next step is likely a ruling or an appeal. Any approval would need further review.
- Aug 13, 2026 Township supervisors voted to deny extensions and preliminary plans for the five data center sites.
- Aug 12, 2026 Developer sued the township, its planning commission and its supervisors over an extension.
- Jul 2026 Planning commission recommended that supervisors vote no on three of the data centers.
- May 27, 2026 Planning commission agenda covered the 1,677,800 sq ft data center land development application.
- Mar 12, 2026 Latest county filing for the project.
- Mar 2026 Township passed a stricter data center ordinance.
Want to weigh in? Decisions now rest with the court because of the lawsuit; any renewed plan would return to the Upper Merion planning commission and Board of Supervisors, whose public meetings accept comment.
Who's behind it
MLP Ventures (county filing lists Innovation 411 Fee Owner LLC as owner) · News coverage identifies MLP Ventures as the developer that bought the site from GSK and also owns a life sciences company.
Around the web
- Upper Merion Planning Commission agenda, May 27, 2026Upper Merion Township · May 27, 2026Lists the land development application for a 1,677,800 sq ft data center at 411 Swedeland Road in the LI district.
- Developer Sues Upper Merion Township to Clear Path for Massive Data Center ComplexNortheast Times · Aug 13, 2026Reports the developer's lawsuit over the township's handling of the data center applications.
- Upper Merion Board of Supervisors denies all 5 data center sites by MLP VenturesFOX 29 · Aug 13, 2026Reports the supervisors' denial of all five proposed sites.
- King of Prussia data center developer lawsuitThe Philadelphia Inquirer · Aug 13, 2026Covers the developer's lawsuit against the township.
Planning terms explained
- Land development application
- A formal request to the township to approve a site plan for building on a property.
- Preliminary approval
- An early approval step that must be followed by final approval before construction.
- Planning commission
- A township advisory board that reviews plans and recommends action to the elected supervisors.
- Limited Industrial (LI) zoning
- A zoning category that permits certain lighter industrial uses.
- Central utility plant
- A building housing the power and cooling equipment that serves the main buildings.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $1.2B
- ~8,389 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~4,194 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
- ~86.9 acres of site work (grading, stormwater, landscaping)
- Two central utility plants with generator backup systems
- Four utility pads for equipment installation
- Data center buildings with UPS systems and primary/backup generators
- Extensive stormwater management and detention system
- Public water and sewer infrastructure connections
- 618 off-street parking spaces
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