Large Bootle data centre scoped by L51 Developments
Preliminary plans for a three-storey data centre off Bridle Road spanning up to 485,000 sq ft have been put to Sefton Council.
L51 Developments’ data centre would house two blocks and be capable of a 28-megawatt IT load, which is the amount of power required to operate essential technology within the centre.
In addition, 38 generators would be enclosed on the ground floor to provide emergency backup power.
A closed-loop chilled water system, to cool the data centre, will ensure the site has no net water usage, according to plans.
An ancillary 49,500 sq ft office space on a prospective third floor has also been considered in the EIA Screening Opinion lodged with Sefton Council.
The land in question off Bridle Road covers just below 10 acres and sits directly west of the Farriers Way Industrial Estate.
Should the application go smoothly, demolition could begin on the unused office blocks currently standing on the site by February 2026 – teeing up a three-year construction programme, targeting full operation by 2029.
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Turley is the planner behind the EIA submitted to Sefton Council.
Demand for data centres has risen sharply in recent years, with developers keen for a slice of the economic opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
Plans for a 2.5m sq ft data centre in Anglesey are currently under consideration, while Digital Land & Development has been preparing its own 66,000 sq ft facility between Eccles and Irlam.
To view the request for a screening opinion, use the planning reference DC/2025/01117 on Sefton Council’s planning portal.
