How Fenceways Wins Data Centre Projects: The Perimeter Expertise Securing the UK's Digital Backbone

When it comes to data centre security, the perimeter is not simply a boundary. It is the first physical layer protecting power systems, cooling infrastructure, data halls, staff, visitors and the digital services that businesses and communities depend on every day.

I have seen firsthand how a well-designed perimeter can improve an entire site’s security strategy. It creates delay, defines access, supports surveillance and helps security teams detect and respond to threats before they reach critical assets.

That is why Fenceways Group Ltd wins data centre projects. We understand that operators and developers are not looking for a standard commercial fence. You need a specialist perimeter security partner who can understand your threat profile, coordinate with the wider construction team and deliver a system that satisfies specifiers, insurers, regulators and long-term facility managers.

With Manchester roots dating back to 1983, more than 40 years of fencing expertise, nationwide coverage and a 10-year warranty on qualifying installations, we bring practical experience and corporate assurance to complex infrastructure projects.

Why the M62 Corridor Has Become a Data Centre Security Front Line

Few regions demonstrate the changing UK data centre market better than the M62 corridor between Manchester, Warrington, Leeds and the surrounding technology hubs.

The area offers several advantages for data centre development:

• Access to major transport routes

• Large development sites

• Strong electricity and connectivity infrastructure

• Proximity to established commercial centres

• A growing technology and engineering workforce

• Opportunities for hyperscale, colocation and edge facilities

As more digital infrastructure moves beyond the traditional concentration around London and Slough, the security expectations for northern sites are rising too.

A data centre near a major motorway, industrial estate or transport route may face a combination of risks, including:

• Unauthorised entry

• Theft of equipment or materials

• Vandalism and protest activity

• Attempts to access external plant

• Vehicle-borne attacks

• Sabotage

• Insider threats

• Opportunistic climbing, cutting or forced entry

I always advise clients to begin with a site-specific threat and vulnerability assessment rather than selecting a fence from a standard catalogue. Your perimeter should reflect what you are protecting, how the site operates, its location and the consequences of disruption.

For more context, see our guide to data centre security along the M62 corridor.

The Post-NPSA Shift: Why LPS 1175 Now Matters More

The specification process for critical infrastructure fencing has changed.

From 1 January 2026, the National Protective Security Authority removed fencing and gates from its Catalogue of Security Equipment and ended its testing under the Manual Forced Entry Standard. This does not mean that security requirements have disappeared. It means that developers, operators and consultants need to understand the current route to demonstrating forced-entry resistance.

Today, LPS 1175 certification is one of the key benchmarks for attack-resistant fencing, gates and related physical security products in the UK. Depending on the assessed risk, a project may require a lower or higher security rating.

The important distinction is this:

• LPS 1175 certification applies to tested products or systems

• The contractor must install the specified system correctly

• The final design must still respond to the site’s threat profile

• Fencing and gates should be considered together

• CCTV, PIDS and HVM should be coordinated with the physical perimeter

• Product certification should be verified for the exact system being proposed

I will guide you through this process carefully. Fenceways does not treat certification as a marketing phrase. We help you identify the relevant performance requirements, coordinate the right products and ensure the installation aligns with the project specification.

For many data centre applications, a high-security mesh or palisade system may be considered alongside LPS 1175-rated gates and other supporting measures. However, the appropriate rating must always be confirmed through a formal risk assessment and project-specific specification.

The Technical Perimeter Systems We Bring to Data Centre Projects

A data centre perimeter works best as a layered system. Here are the main elements I recommend considering during the design stage.

High-Security Mesh for Visibility and Delay

High-security welded mesh, including 358-style mesh, is widely considered for data centre perimeters because it offers two important benefits:

• It is difficult to climb and cut compared with standard mesh

• It allows clear sightlines for CCTV and security patrols

The small apertures reduce potential hand and footholds, while the rigid welded construction makes unauthorised removal more difficult. The open design can also help security teams maintain visibility around the boundary rather than creating concealed areas.

I always advise reviewing the full system, not just the panel. Posts, fixings, foundations, corner details, overlaps, gates and interfaces with buildings can all affect real-world performance.

Anti-Climb Palisade Fencing for Robust Protection

Anti-climb palisade fencing remains a strong option for areas that require a highly visible and physically imposing barrier.

It may be suitable for:

• External plant compounds

• Substations and generator areas

• Fuel storage zones

• Service yards

• High-risk site boundaries

• Restricted operational areas

Palisade fencing can provide an effective visual deterrent while maintaining useful visibility for cameras and patrols. The design should be selected according to the required security level, height, ground conditions and proximity to roads or other access points.

Automated Gates That Do Not Become the Weakest Point

A perimeter is only as strong as its access points.

Data centre gates must support security without interrupting essential operations. Staff, contractors, deliveries and emergency services all need controlled access, often around the clock.

Depending on the layout, we may consider:

• Automated sliding gates

• Bi-folding speed gates

• Heavy-duty swing gates

• Separate pedestrian and vehicle entrances

• Rising arm barriers

• Intercom and access-control interfaces

• Automatic closing and locking functions

• Manual override arrangements for emergencies

I always recommend that gates are specified to complement the security performance of the adjoining fence. A high-security fence with a lightweight or poorly controlled gate creates an obvious vulnerability.

Integrating CCTV, PIDS and Access Control

Modern data centre security is not passive. The perimeter should support a coordinated detection and response system.

Fenceways works with project teams to consider how fencing will interact with:

• CCTV camera positions

• Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems, or PIDS

• Security lighting

• Access-control readers

• Intercoms

• Alarm management platforms

• Security control rooms

• Guard patrol routes

• Emergency response procedures

PIDS can be fence-mounted or positioned along vulnerable boundary sections to identify climbing, cutting, impact or tampering. CCTV can then help operators verify an alarm and respond appropriately.

Here is why early coordination matters: if cameras are installed after the fence has been designed, posts, mesh, gates or landscaping may obstruct critical sightlines. By discussing the perimeter during the design phase, we can help create a clearer operational zone for detection and surveillance.

Hostile Vehicle Mitigation at the Main Approach

Vehicle-borne threats must be considered separately from pedestrian intrusion.

A data centre may need protection at:

• Main vehicle entrances

• Visitor and staff car parks

• Delivery yards

• Loading bays

• Roads approaching critical plant

• Boundaries with limited stand-off distance

• Areas close to public highways

Potential measures include rising bollards, crash-rated barriers, reinforced gates and other hostile vehicle mitigation systems. The correct solution depends on vehicle types, approach speeds, available set-back distances and the consequences of an impact.

I always recommend consulting with the project security consultant and relevant manufacturers before selecting an HVM system. A bollard or barrier should be suitable for the assessed threat and integrated with access control, traffic management and emergency procedures.

How Fenceways Wins Data Centre Security Contracts

Winning data centre work requires more than supplying a competitive price. Operators and principal contractors need evidence that a fencing partner understands the complexity of critical infrastructure.

Our approach is built around five practical stages.

1. We Prove Our Security Credentials

We demonstrate relevant experience in commercial and industrial perimeter systems, including mesh, palisade fencing, gates, automated access and rising bollards.

Our commercial fencing expertise gives project teams a clear view of the standards, installation quality and coordination required on demanding sites.

2. We Understand the Threat Profile

We ask practical questions before recommending a system:

• What assets are located close to the perimeter?

• Where are the vulnerable approaches?

• What vehicle types use the site?

• What are the operational access patterns?

• What are the insurer and client requirements?

• Are there planning, acoustic or visual considerations?

• What happens if a gate or fence line is damaged?

This allows us to recommend a solution based on risk and outcome rather than selecting the most expensive product automatically.

3. We Coordinate with Principal Contractors

Data centre construction requires close coordination between multiple disciplines. We work with principal contractors, groundworks teams, electrical contractors, security consultants and facility managers to address:

• Site access and logistics

• Ground conditions and foundations

• Service routes and underground utilities

• Temporary works

• Hoarding and construction-phase security

• Interface details with buildings and roads

• Programme and handover requirements

• Testing, documentation and maintenance

4. We Meet Specifier and Insurer Expectations

A credible proposal should explain more than the fence height and finish. It should identify the proposed system, security performance, gate arrangements, HVM considerations, installation methodology and maintenance requirements.

Where certification is specified, we recommend that the exact product documentation is reviewed and retained as part of the project record.

5. We Provide Corporate Assurance

Security is only one part of delivery. Data centre projects also require strong governance.

Fenceways promotes its HSE and in-house legal teams as corporate assurance measures designed to help manage project risks and respond professionally to any event. This includes supporting:

• Site-specific risk assessments and method statements

• Safe working practices

• Construction-phase coordination

• Contractual requirements

• Variations and programme changes

• Incident reporting and escalation

• Warranty and handover documentation

• Legal and commercial review

You can read more about our HSE and in-house legal assurance approach.

Why Fenceways Is the Trusted Perimeter Partner

Fenceways was established in Manchester in 1983 and has developed through more than four decades of practical fencing experience. Under Paul Strong’s leadership, the company continues to focus on workmanship, accountability and delivering solutions that perform beyond handover.

Our data centre and critical infrastructure proposition is supported by:

• More than 40 years of industry experience

• Nationwide project coverage

• Manchester and London presence

• High-security mesh and palisade capability

• Automated gates and rising bollards

• CCTV and PIDS coordination

• HVM considerations

• HSE and in-house legal corporate assurance

• A 10-year warranty on qualifying installations

• FSC-certified timber where timber elements are appropriate

• Experience across commercial, industrial and infrastructure environments

FSC-certified timber is not normally the primary security barrier for a data centre. However, it may be relevant for screening, landscaping, staff areas, acoustic features or complementary site works where appearance and responsible sourcing matter.

The Outcome: A Perimeter That Supports the Whole Security Strategy

Fenceways wins data centre projects because we understand the outcome you require.

You need a perimeter that:

• Delays unauthorised entry

• Supports detection and response

• Protects critical plant

• Controls vehicles and pedestrians

• Integrates with wider security systems

• Meets project and insurance requirements

• Can be maintained throughout the facility’s operational life

• Provides confidence to clients, auditors and stakeholders

Remember, a data centre fence is not an isolated construction package. It is part of the site’s resilience strategy and the first line of defence for critical national infrastructure.

If you are developing, operating or upgrading a data centre along the M62 corridor or elsewhere in the UK, I recommend involving Fenceways during the early design stage. Contact our team to discuss your perimeter requirements, threat profile and project programme. We will help you develop a practical, coordinated security solution built for the demands of modern data centre operations.