Data centre construction timeline revealed
QTS/Northumberland County CouncilThe timeline for delivery of a £10bn artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing data centre has been revealed.
Papers published as part of new planning applications for the site at Cambois, near Blyth, in Northumberland, from US firm QTS say the first phase of so-called enabling works has a target start date of late 2025.
Construction on the first phase of the data centres themselves is set to begin next year.
A further four phases are slated to follow, with the final one completed in 2035.
Those timescales are subject to securing future planning permissions, documents say
By the time it is completed, the site will total up to 540,000 sq m (5,812,512 sq km) of internal space, as well as the likes of substations and other associated works.
Outline permission for the facility, which will include 10 buildings, was granted in March.
The first phase of the project covers the south and south-western portion of the former Blyth Power Station site.
Construction of that stage alone is not expected to be completed until 2029, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
QTS is a data subsidiary of investment giant Blackstone.
Blackstone has previously said the development would create more than 1,600 jobs, including 1,200 long-term construction roles.
In addition, it was estimated a further 2,700 jobs would be created across the wider local area.
The site had previously been home to Britishvolt, which had intended to build a £3.8bn battery factory for the electric car industry.
However, the company collapsed in 2023 leading to the loss of more than 200 jobs.