UPDATED: Developer to end appeal in Digital Gateway data center case, putting the massive project in deeper peril

One of the primary developers behind the extensive PW Digital Gateway data center project, Compass Datacenters, has decided to withdraw its appeal of a court decision that invalidated the project's rezoning. This move follows a March 31 ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals, which upheld an August 2025 Prince William Circuit Court decision. The initial rezoning approval by Prince William's Board of County Supervisors in December 2023 was deemed void due to improper public notice. The Digital Gateway project, planned near Gainesville, Virginia, aimed to be the world's largest data center campus, encompassing over 22 million square feet across 2,000 acres and featuring 37 data centers. Community opposition, spearheaded by groups like the Coalition to Protect Prince William County and the American Battlefield Trust, played a significant role, citing concerns about the project's proximity to Manassas National Battlefield Park. The American Battlefield Trust and the Oak Valley Homeowners Association were among those who filed lawsuits challenging the rezoning. While Compass Datacenters is withdrawing its appeal, the status of co-developer QTS's involvement in continuing the legal fight remains unclear. American Battlefield Trust officials have urged QTS to follow Compass's lead and abandon the project. Additionally, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently voted to end the county's own appeal of the judges' rulings, after having spent over $1.7 million in taxpayer funds on the legal battle. The project's future appears grim, with critics celebrating the latest developments as a significant victory against the controversial development.