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.
