Decision looms for Blackpool data centre exemplar
Fylde Council is expected to approve plans from its local authority neighbour for a 34,000 sq ft scheme at Silicon Sands next week.
Blackpool Council submitted an application to Fylde Council for what it hopes will be the first of many data centres at the 50-acre campus late last year.
The Silicon Sands masterplan makes provision for two more data centres of 10MW and 30MW capacity. The one up for approval next week would have a capacity of 6MW.
The three-storey building would accommodate a data centre, R&D space, and office accommodation over the road from the Air Balloon pub and a Premier Inn off Squires Gate Lane.
Research at the site will focus upon the opportunities to utilise liquid immersion cooling technology rather than fans. According to planning documents, the development is being brought forward in collaboration with Lancaster University.
Silicon Sands, located within the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, is seen as an ideal location for a data centre cluster due to the arrival of the transatlantic Aquacomms fibre cable, which affords some of the fastest internet speeds in the world.
Cassidy Ashton is advising Blackpool on the proposals. To learn more, search for reference number 25/0646 on Fylde Council’s planning portal.
I’ve seen snails move faster! How long has this been in the offer? How long has this been coming for? Over 4 yrs and they stick a few rds in? Have they even got a logo or a website yet? Playing at it!
By Brian Mitton
So that’s 46 MW of capacity currently planned + all the other loads for the enterprise zone…. The only thing that will kill this dream is the inadequate capacity in the local grid. When will people and particularly Politics / Politicians wake up to this and do something about it.
By Steve5839
Given how little development land Blackpool has, to give over a chunk of it to an energy-hungry, job-light facility like a data centre doesn’t seem too smart. Yes, I know they want to prove the ‘Silicon Sands’ concept, but…
By More Anonymous than the Others
This is what I do.. Live and breath data centers. Next gen liquid cooling technology is great. 1st point around grid capacity is critical. Also to have such a big data center capacity means you need the engineers and DC skillset readily available for deployment. It’s a decade long seeding project, not just the construction aspect. Will be good to see what the strategy is in relation to this and just as importantly, which companies will it attract?
By Srini Kovvuri
Not very big at 46MW – think getting it from offshore wind – but probably been promised to everyone
By Lizzy Baggot