A procurement process is currently being finalised for the development of the first energy-efficient data centre, which will bring up to £300m of investment into the Fylde coast. Following the formal competitive exercise under the Procurement Act 2023, the council intends to award the contract to HOCHTIEF Data Centre Partner UK Ltd (HOCHTIEF DCPUK) who submitted the most advantageous tender.
This decision is now subject to a mandatory standstill period and final governance approvals prior to formal contract award. Further details will be shared once the process has concluded.
The provisional agreement would mean that the investment, construction and running costs would be entirely met by the private sector, following Blackpool Council and Lancashire Combined County Authority’s previous work and funding to assemble the land.
The new data centre will form the first phase of Silicon Sands, a new business park designed to attract technology and digital companies to the area, creating new, well-paid jobs for residents.
Outline planning permission has already been granted for the sustainability-focussed data centre along with a 20,000sqft office and research space, with a 6MW electrical supply offer from SP Electricity North West.
Silicon Sands has the potential to support thousands of high-value jobs across the region both directly and indirectly, through investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) data infrastructure, renewable energy and innovation led growth.
Silicon Sands will also lead the way in making the entire data industry more environmentally friendly. The data centres will be powered by renewable energy, use closed-loop liquid cooling to improve efficiency and create a local heating network to re-use the heat as an energy source for other properties.
Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said
The location for Silicon Sands, Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, also has access to substantial power infrastructure. This includes an additional 32MVA primary substation currently under construction by SP Electricity North West, plans for on-site solar power and future opportunities to connect to renewable energy sources such as offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea.
Alongside the environmental benefits, Silicon Sands will also take advantage of Blackpool’s strong digital connectivity. The CeltixConnect-2 cable at Blackpool Airport has the fastest connection in the UK, sending a third of the world’s internet traffic between the US and the UK in less than 0.064 seconds, making the area an attractive place to invest and grow and positioning the Fylde Coast as a leading location for sustainable data centres and digital innovation.
The first data centre will be at the site of the old fire station and engineering yard at Blackpool Airport, which was demolished in 2023, as well as on the site of the airport’s old administration offices and security point. A new administration and passenger facility was built in 2025.
Silicon Sands is one of Lancashire Combined County Authority’s transformational projects in the Lancashire Growth Plan. The council received £2m in funding from the Lancashire Devolution deal for acquisition of the site.
For more information about Silicon Sands, visit www.siliconsands.co.uk