Outline permission given for major Al data centre

PROJECT COULD ATTRACT 'UP TO £10BN PRIVATE INVESTMENT'

- By IVAN MORRIS POXΤΟΝ Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

COUNCILLORS have agreed to grant outline permission for a major Al data centre on land off Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate, in North Lincolnshire.

It is expected to cost between £5.5bn to £7.5bn to develop, and attract up to £10bn private investment during the project's lifetime.

Locally, it is estimated it will provide a £1.6bn to £2.3bn boost to the local economy during its construction through a requirement for 30 per cent of suppliers being sourced from within a 30-mile radius.

The applicant was Elsham Tech Park Ltd, which has the same listed directors on Companies House, Nick Aldridge and Sam Matthew, as Humber Tech Park Ltd.

The latter is behind already approved plans for the £2.2bn Humber Tech Park AI data centre. The Al data centre campus proposed near Elsham is one of the largest proposed anywhere in the UK.

The development will comprise 15 data centre buildings, 16m to 23m tall excluding flues, with a gross internal area of up to 905,000 sq m. There will also be an amenity building with a creche, café, gym and small shop.

The site would have its own energy centre producing up to 49.9MW of energy, a district heating unit, and up to 71,000 sq m gross internal area greenhouses, which would use excess heat from the data centre buildings.

"The numbers attached to this project are eye-watering," said council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Brigg and Wolds Ward).