Plans for what could become the largest artificial intelligence data centre campus in the United Kingdom have received outline planning approval in North Lincolnshire. The proposed development, located near Scunthorpe on the site of the former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield, marks one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure investments currently planned in the country.
If completed, the project would play a significant role in supporting the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing services across the UK economy.
Major £7.5bn Digital Infrastructure Investment
The development would deliver more than 1.5 million square metres of hyperscale data centre floorspace across a campus made up of 15 individual data halls. With an estimated construction cost of around £7.5 billion, the scheme represents one of the largest technology infrastructure projects ever proposed in Britain.
Once operational, the campus is designed to provide up to 1,000 megawatts of IT load capacity, a scale intended to meet the rapidly growing computing requirements driven by artificial intelligence, data processing and cloud services.
The project is being led by Elsham Tech Park Ltd, a company established specifically to deliver the development. The firm operates under the oversight of Greystoke, a specialist planning and infrastructure developer involved in large-scale technology and energy projects.
Redevelopment of Former RAF Elsham Wolds Site
The proposal covers approximately 176 hectares of land at the former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield, a site located a short distance from Scunthorpe and within reach of major transport and energy infrastructure across northern England.
The masterplan includes not only the data centre buildings themselves but also a substantial supporting energy infrastructure network. Central to this is a new on-site energy centre capable of generating up to 49.9 megawatts of power.
Additional infrastructure within the campus would include battery storage facilities, electrical substations, a district heating system and flexible commercial space designed to support the wider technology ecosystem.
Heat Reuse for Agricultural Production
One of the more unusual aspects of the proposal is a plan to integrate energy-intensive greenhouse agriculture within the site. Waste heat generated by the data centre servers could be captured and reused to support controlled-environment food production.
Developers say the approach would improve overall energy efficiency while creating additional economic activity on the site, aligning with broader efforts in the UK to develop more sustainable data infrastructure.
Construction Timeline and Employment Impact
The planning framework allows for a construction period of up to ten years, reflecting the scale and complexity of the development.
According to Greystoke, the project could support between 2,600 and 3,600 full-time equivalent construction jobs annually during the build phase, including roles both on-site and across the wider supply chain.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase of the campus scheduled to open in 2029 if the project progresses according to plan.
Design and Landscape Integration
Buildings across the technology campus would range in height from around seven metres to approximately 23 metres.
To reduce visual impact on the surrounding countryside, the masterplan includes landscaped earth bunds reaching up to ten metres in height, along with extensive woodland planting around the perimeter of the site.
A central spine road would connect the 15 development zones across the campus. Each zone is designed to be delivered independently, allowing phased construction and operational flexibility as demand grows.
Primary site access would be created via Flarepath within the existing nearby industrial estate, linking the development to the local road network.
Positioning Lincolnshire in the UK’s AI Expansion
If completed, the Elsham Tech Park development would place Lincolnshire at the centre of the UK’s expanding artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure sector.
Demand for large-scale data centres has accelerated in recent years as businesses, government services and research institutions increasingly rely on advanced computing power. Projects of this scale are seen as essential to maintaining the UK’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
The Scunthorpe scheme therefore represents not only a major construction project, but also a strategic investment in the country’s future technology capacity.
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