Amazon will not build data centres on the former George Washington University campus it bought in Ashburn, under a preliminary agreement with Loudoun County announced at the Board of Supervisors' meeting on Tuesday, October 20, and posted by the county on October 22.

Source: Loudoun County — Preliminary agreement with Amazon prevents data centers, fast tracks housing at Loudoun GWU campus (Oct 22, 2026)

The plan Amazon is withdrawing would have put about 800,000 square feet of data centres — four buildings, in the reporting — on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus. Amazon bought the 122-acre campus from George Washington University earlier this year for $427 million, and the proposal drew opposition from county officials, residents and GW students, The GW Hatchet reported.

Source: The GW Hatchet — Amazon agrees to withdraw data center construction plans on GW's Virginia campus (Oct 21, 2026)

In exchange for fast-tracked rezoning of the land it keeps, Amazon agreed to convey approximately 25 acres — with a fair market value of $65 million — to the county at no cost as part of the rezoning applications, the county said. Board Chair Phyllis J. Randall said the county will consider using that land for an indoor sports and recreation facility and a community arts centre.

Amazon keeps ownership of the remaining roughly 97 acres, which would be rezoned to permit a broad range of housing and mixed-use development. Amazon also offered $5 million to the county's housing trust fund, and stated its intent to withdraw its data-centre application and forgo any legal action regarding data-centre development at the site, the county said. Northern Virginia Magazine, reporting Loudoun Now's account, said the rezoned district would bar data centres even by special exception.

Source: Northern Virginia Magazine — Amazon cancels data center plans for GW campus, plans to donate part of the land to Loudoun County (Oct 21, 2026)

What is solid

  • The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on October 20 on measures intended to eliminate any potential data-centre use on the GW campus site, and Amazon agreed to withdraw its application and forgo legal action over data-centre development there.
  • The package includes about 25 acres conveyed to the county (fair market value $65 million), a $5 million contribution to the county housing trust fund, and fast-tracked rezoning of the remaining about 97 acres for housing and mixed-use development.
  • Amazon bought the 122-acre campus earlier this year for $427 million, after planning roughly 800,000 square feet of data centres.

What is only claimed

  • The deal is preliminary: the county and Amazon must still finalize agreements in the coming months, so the land conveyance and rezoning are not yet completed.
  • What is ultimately built on the county's 25 acres — the sports facility and arts centre are under consideration, in the chair's words — has not been finally decided.
$427 millionWhat Amazon paid George Washington University for the 122-acre campus earlier this year
25 acres / $65 millionLand to be conveyed to Loudoun County at no cost, at fair market value
$5 millionAmazon's offered contribution to the county housing trust fund
97 acresLand Amazon retains, to be fast-tracked for housing and mixed-use rezoning

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Loudoun County residents," Randall said in the county's release. "There will be no data centers or infrastructure that would support data centers on the GW campus, our housing trust fund will get a $5 million contribution, and the land donation provides the opportunity to build a long-awaited indoor sports facility and community arts center for the county." The joint effort is titled Project Potomac Promise.