Apto announces plans for Italy’s largest data centre campus with €3 billion investment in Greater Milan
228,000 sqm site secured in Lacchiarella (MI) for a next-generation digital infrastructure hub supporting cloud, AI and national digital transformation
Apto, a provider of world-class hyperscale data centres across Europe, has secured a strategic site in Lacchiarella (MI), in the Greater Milan area, for the development of a next-generation data centre campus. Covering 228,000 square metres, with 300 MVA of planned power capacity, and a total planned investment of €3 billion, the site is set to become the largest data centre campus of its kind in Italy.
Located in an established industrial area, the site lies within a zone already designated for development under the municipality’s land use plans. It is ideally positioned to meet the needs of major cloud providers, AI-driven applications and public sector digitisation. The announcement follows Apto’s recent campus launch in Athens and reinforces its commitment to enabling digital infrastructure across Europe’s high growth and emerging markets.
“Milan is a high-growth market and we’re proud to have secured such a strategically located site with direct access to key networks and long-term development potential,” said Russell Poole, CEO of Apto. “This move sends a strong signal: Apto is ready to deliver the digital capacity the region needs to grow.”
The Lacchiarella campus will feature up to five standalone data centres, each designed for high-density workloads, offering flexibility and rapid deployment capabilities for customers. The project is also positioned in a favourable energy and connectivity environment, with access to renewable sources and international submarine cable systems including BlueMed and 2Africa.
In addition to its technological impact, the project is expected to bring substantial value to the surrounding area, by supporting both high-skilled technical roles and a broad base of support services, creating a long-term, high-value employment cluster. The site will also support digital skills development through partnerships with local schools and universities, helping boost STEM education and attracting further investment to the region. The plan includes environmental enhancement and mobility initiatives, such as the restoration of nearby agricultural springs, a new pedestrian and cycling path, and upgrades to local transport infrastructure.
From an environmental perspective, the campus is being designed for high efficiency and long-term sustainability, using low carbon materials and targeting LEED Gold certification. In addition, rooftop solar panels will generate up to 2,725 kWp.
Italy, as part of the European Union’s digital agenda, has set ambitious national targets for 2030: to enable digital identity for at least 70% of the population, bridge the digital skills gap for another 70%, and transition 75% of public administrations to cloud services. Infrastructure like Apto’s Lacchiarella campus will be critical to achieving those goals.
“Our aim is to unlock the right capacity in the right places, at the right time,” Poole added, “Lacchiarella is a strategic choice—for the region, for our customers, and for the country’s digital future.”
