Former aircraft hangers at Blackpool Airport are set to be converted into a high-performance data center campus in Blackpool, the UK.
According to a report from The Business Desk, civic leaders in Blackpool are now looking for data center operators to run the project - named Silicon Sands.
The first data center is set to begin construction next year on a cleared area of land. Work is also progressing to relocate and rebuild old hangers closer to the main runway.
In a brochure from Blackpool Council, the gross floor space is expected to span 19,500 sqm (210,000 sq ft). The project has a confirmed 32MVA primary substation, as well as a planned 20MVA solar farm and 50MW battery storage capacity.
The project is also expected to use liquid immersion cooling for the data centers.
Studies are currently underway to connect Silicon Sands to a district heat network, with waste heat from the data centers being re-used to heat surrounding businesses.
“Silicon Sands has the potential to be a complete game-changer in our plans to make Blackpool better. With the power supply, land availability, and ultra-fast internet access, we can sit at the heart of a new digital revolution not just for the town, but for the entire region,” said Councillor Mark Smith, cabinet member for leveling up at Blackpool Council.
He added: “For the data center industry, Silicon Sands offers the chance to reduce its impact on the environment and on the National Grid and show a modern climate-friendly future that has major regeneration benefits.”
Blackpool is home to the Celtix-Connect2 subsea cable, which connects Blackpool, Dublin, and the Isle of Man as part of the North Atlantic Loop. The city does not have a notable data center presence, though nearby Manchester is the UK’s second-largest market after London.
