A proposed multi-billion-pound data centre campus at Cambois, Northumberland, has moved a step closer after local planners authorised preparatory work on the site.
The development, put forward by QTS – a digital infrastructure group owned by US investment firm Blackstone – was granted full planning permission in March and is being promoted as one of the largest inward investments in the UK, with an estimated value of up to £10bn. If built as envisaged, the campus would cover as much as 540,000m2 and include extensive ancillary structures and infrastructure.
Councillors have now approved an application to begin enabling works on the Cambois site. The initial phase includes creation of a site compound, clearance of vegetation, repairs to the perimeter fencing and various earthworks needed to prepare the ground for construction. Full building works are expected to follow after the preparatory stage.
QTS says the facility will use a closed-loop water system and will be designed, built and operated with sustainability in mind. Engineering and design teams named in planning documents include Cundall on mechanical and electrical systems and Arcadis on environmental engineering.
The company projects substantial employment benefits from the scheme. Planning documents suggest the campus would support around 1,200 jobs during construction, several hundred permanent roles to operate the data centres, and up to 2,700 additional indirect or induced jobs in the wider local economy.
As part of the planning agreement, Northumberland County Council is set to receive a fund of £110M intended to drive investment, growth and employment opportunities across the economic corridor served by the recently reopened Northumberland Line.
Local reactions to the scheme have been mixed. Supporters highlight the potential boost to the regional economy and the council funding package, while critics have previously raised concerns about environmental impact, increased traffic and the loss of coastal land. Environmental groups and some residents have pointed to the scale of the proposal and its implications for a largely rural and coastal area.
Nationally, data centre expansion has been contentious as operators seek large, well-connected sites close to power and cooling resources. Proponents argue the facilities are essential to support cloud services, financial services and digital infrastructure; opponents point to land use, energy consumption and local amenity issues.
The QTS proposal remains subject to the timelines and conditions set out in planning consents. The recent decision to permit preparatory work sets the project on a path toward full construction, but the transition from site enabling to operational campus is likely to span several years and further regulatory approvals.
Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said: “This marks another significant milestone for QTS/Blackstone and all of Northumberland and is another big step forward towards realising the massive benefits and opportunities this scheme will bring.
“It’s a multi-billion-pound vote of confidence in our county and it’s great to be now looking forward to work progressing on the ground in the near future.”
QTS Co-CEO Tag Greason said: “The enabling works approval is a major milestone and the first visible step in delivering on our shared vision with the Northumberland County Council.
“The Council’s leadership and collaboration has been instrumental in shaping a project that will bring long-term benefits to the North East region. As we take the next steps forward, we remain committed to hiring locally, supporting training and economic growth, and being responsible, engaged members of the community.”
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