Former global switch executives launch astor to target europe’s powered data centre gap

Astor has launched as a new European data centre developer targeting a shortage of metropolitan sites with both planning approval and access to sufficient power.

The London-based company will develop power-connected, permitted sites and multi-tenant data centres in European markets where grid constraints can make new capacity difficult to deliver.

Backed by private markets investment firm Margaux Platforms, Astor will focus on metropolitan facilities below 100MW and is led by a team of former Global Switch executives.

Astor Targets Data Centre ‘Last Mile’

Astor describes its target market as the “last mile” of AI and cloud infrastructure: securing suitable land, power and approvals close to where compute capacity is required.

The company plans to prepare ready-to-build sites for AI, hyperscale, and enterprise customers, as well as develop its own multi-tenant data centres.

Its reference design is intended to accommodate different computing workloads, with power and racking infrastructure able to be redistributed within the same floor space as customer requirements change.

Former Global Switch Team Leads Astor

Astor is led by CEO Elliot Dittes, formerly Global Head of Project Delivery & Engineering at Global Switch.

He is joined by former senior Global Switch colleagues Benjamin Ryder as Chief Technology Officer, Robert Hogan as Chief Commercial Officer, and Benjamin Worth as General Counsel.

Non-Executive Chairman Dan Wong was formerly Global Co-Head of Macquarie Capital and Head of Europe at Stonepeak. Margaux Platforms CEO Conrad Lucas said the Astor team has a 1.1GW track record in data centre development.

“The next phase of digital growth demands agile infrastructure that can be delivered quickly even as access to grid power becomes more constrained,” said Dittes.

Astor Sees Opportunity in Europe’s Power Constraints

Astor claims Europe is three to five years behind the US in AI and cloud penetration, arguing that ageing grid infrastructure and longer power-connection queues risk constraining the region’s digital ambitions. The company did not provide supporting data for the comparison in its announcement.

Its proposition rests on the view that demand is already present, but suitable infrastructure cannot always be delivered quickly enough.

“Europe is not short of data centre demand. It is short of land in the right place, with power and the requisite technical expertise to unlock it,” said Wong.

Astor is betting that the gap between those conditions creates room for a specialist developer.

Sub-100MW Facilities Target Metropolitan Demand

Rather than targeting the largest hyperscale campuses, Astor will specialise in facilities below 100MW in metropolitan and network-edge locations.

Its model gives the company two routes into the market: preparing powered land for compute providers or developing multi-tenant facilities itself.

Astor said its designs will also incorporate waste-heat recovery, low water usage, and stable voltage ride-through capabilities. Power and racking can be redistributed within the same floor space as customer requirements change, without additional retrofitting expenditure.

“Modern computing needs are broadly underserved today by legacy infrastructure in the locations where capacity is needed most,” said Lucas.

Astor’s launch represents a specific bet on Europe’s infrastructure constraints. As AI and cloud demand puts pressure on available power and suitable metropolitan land, the company sees an opportunity in making capacity deliverable where existing infrastructure cannot readily accommodate it.

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