Data Center Census

Gainesville, Prince William County, VA

Prince William Digital Gateway

Also known as PW Digital Gateway

CancelledRezonings voided in court; QTS withdrew its Supreme Court appeal and ended the project July 2, 2026
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating
  6. Cancelled

The Digital Gateway was a proposed campus of about 23 million square feet on roughly 2,100 acres near Manassas National Battlefield Park, pitched in 2021 as the world's largest data center campus. Supervisors approved the rezonings in December 2023, but courts voided them in 2025 and 2026 for faulty public notice. Compass and the county dropped out in April 2026, and QTS withdrew its Virginia Supreme Court appeal on July 2, 2026, ending the project.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size2,100 acres [7]
about 1,790 acres rezoned
Floor area23 million sq ft [7]
planned at full build-out
Buildings37 data centers [5]
as pitched in 2021

Local decisions & site

Deciding voteBoard of County Supervisors approved the Compass, Digital Gateway North and Digital Gateway South rezonings 4-3 following the December 12–13, 2023 public hearing [8]
Source excerpt
“The ruling invalidates the Compass, Digital Gateway North (DG North), and Digital Gateway South (DG South) rezonings approved by a 4-3 vote after a 27-hour marathon hearing.”
ZoningThree rezonings: Compass 884 acres, DG North 534 acres, DG South 342 acres (about 1,760 acres of former agricultural land) [8]
differs from the record's 'about 1,790 acres rezoned' (Virginia Business)
Source excerpt
“Compass alone spans 884 acres and 11.5 million square feet of gross floor area with height caps of 85 feet in most bays; DG North covers 534 acres and 7 million square feet (83-foot caps); DG South covers 342 acres and 3.7 million square feet (60-foot caps).”
Nearest homes or schoolsA plaintiff's home was 130 feet from the Compass site [8]
as described in the Court of Appeals opinion, per Potomac Local
Source excerpt
“One plaintiff, living 130 feet from the Compass site, described the current "peace and tranquility" of the property”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. Rezoning process begins [5]

  2. Board of County Supervisors adopts the comprehensive plan amendment for the Digital Gateway area [6]

  3. Board of County Supervisors approves rezonings after marathon public hearing [7]

  4. Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving voids rezonings over improper public notice [1]

  5. Virginia Court of Appeals affirms voiding of rezonings [7]

  6. Compass Datacenters drops its appeal [2]

  7. Board of County Supervisors unanimously votes not to appeal [7]

  8. QTS files appeal petitions with the Supreme Court of Virginia [7]

  9. QTS withdraws petitions and ends the project [6]

Issues raised

  • Proximity to Manassas National Battlefield Park [1]
  • Courts found the county failed to meet required public-notice rules for the December 2023 hearing [1]
  • County spent $1.72 million on legal fees, per Technical.ly [5]
  • Oak Valley HOA residents cited noise and property-value concerns [4]

Sources

  1. Virginia Appeals Court upholds block on Prince William Digital Gateway project
    Virginia Business · Apr 1, 2026 · news
  2. Developers drop appeal of zoning decision on Digital Gateway project
    WTOP News · Apr 2026 · news
  3. Prince William Supervisors Unanimously Drop Digital Gateway Appeal, Opening Door for Rezoning
    Potomac Local · Apr 15, 2026 · news
  4. 'Surprised by the arrogance:' Digital Gateway developer QTS files appeal to save Prince William data center project
    InsideNoVa · May 1, 2026 · news
  5. Data center fight offers crucial lessons as it heads to Virginia Supreme Court
    Technical.ly · Jun 2, 2026 · news
  6. QTS Withdraws Supreme Court Appeal, Ending Proposed Digital Gateway Data Center Project
    Potomac Local · Jul 3, 2026 · news
  7. Prince William Digital Gateway data center project officially dies
    Virginia Business · Jul 6, 2026 · news
  8. Digital Gateway Projects Halted: Court Rules Oak Valley Rezonings Invalid in Major Resident Victory
    Potomac Local · Mar 31, 2026 · news