£7.5bn AI Data Centre Campus Approved in North Lincolnshire

Plans to build what could become the UK’s largest artificial intelligence data centre campus have received outline approval in North Lincolnshire, marking a major step forward for the country’s digital infrastructure sector.

The proposed Elsham Tech Park development will be built on the site of the former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield near Scunthorpe.

The scheme is being promoted by Elsham Tech Park Ltd, which is overseen by infrastructure and planning developer Greystoke.

One of the UK’s Largest Digital Infrastructure Projects

The development is expected to cost around £7.5 billion and will deliver more than 1.5 million square metres of hyperscale data centre floorspace across a campus featuring 15 data halls.

Designed to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, the facility will target 1,000MW of IT load capacity, placing it among the largest digital infrastructure projects currently proposed in the UK.

Energy and Infrastructure

The masterplan includes major supporting infrastructure such as:

• A new on-site energy centre generating up to 49.9MW

• Battery energy storage systems

• Electrical substations

• District heating plant

• Flexible commercial and support spaces

An innovative element of the scheme involves using waste heat from the data centre servers to support greenhouse agriculture, helping improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Construction and Economic Impact

The development covers 176 hectares and is expected to be delivered over a 10-year construction period, potentially supporting between 2,600 and 3,600 full-time construction jobs annually both on and off site.

If approved for full construction, works are expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase of the campus targeted to open in 2029.

Once completed, the project could position Lincolnshire as a key hub in the UK’s growing AI and cloud computing infrastructure sector.