Plans for large AI data centre approved

Plans for one of the UK's largest data centres to be built in North Lincolnshire have been approved.

The artificial intelligence (AI) data centre campus, called Elsham Tech Park, will be developed next to Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate.

North Lincolnshire Council said the facility could attract up to £10bn of investment and would bring about 900 highly skilled long-term jobs to the area.

Council leader Rob Waltham said: "The numbers attached to this project are eye-watering... but what really matters is what it means for residents in North Lincolnshire."

According to plans, the energy centre would comprise up to 15 individual data centre buildings and would produce up to 49.9MW of electricity a year.

Next to it would be a greenhouse complex, using waste heat from the cooling of the data centre buildings to grow agricultural produce.

The site would cover up to 435 acres (176 hectares) of agricultural field.

The council said the project would produce up to 1GW (1,000MW) of computing capacity, placing it among the largest AI data centre campuses proposed in the UK.

The development would also create thousands of construction roles over the course of a decade as the site is built out, the authority added.

Waltham said: "This is a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity.

"North Lincolnshire remains a place where major industries choose to invest, grow and create jobs."

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