A planned 80 MW data centre at Peel Park on the outskirts of Blackpool has been given the green light by Fylde Borough Council’s planning committee.
The consent covers an approximately 20‑acre plot within a 37‑acre freehold site immediately adjacent to existing office buildings leased to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Strategic site with power and fibre
The land earmarked for the data centre is currently underused, mainly serving as car parking, scrubland and trees, although it benefits from strategic connectivity. Elite UK REIT has highlighted the site’s proximity to national fibre networks and transatlantic subsea cables, as well as to national electricity infrastructure, as key factors in its choice of location.
Planning permission allows the data centre building to reach up to 14 metres in height, with a rooftop cooling structure rising to 20 metres. Support infrastructure will include a substation compound, security office, plant facilities, parking, drainage and landscaping.
Securing sufficient power capacity has been a notable milestone for the scheme. The company has applied for and been offered up to 120 MVA of power for the site, a level of supply that could support energy‑intensive data centre operations once built.
Regional significance amid rising demand
“The planning approval today marks another milestone in our value creation strategy,” said Mr Joshua Liaw, Chief Executive Officer of the manager, in a statement.
“It demonstrates our ability to identify unique attributes and potential of each of our value. We are now in a strong position to actively explore various strategic options for Peel Park, Blackpool to maximise value for our Unitholders.
“With demand for artificial intelligence and cloud‑based technologies continuing to grow, we are excited about the prospect of a proposed data centre in Peel Park, Blackpool in supporting regional economic development and inward investment.”
While Blackpool is not traditionally a major data centre hub compared with established markets such as London and the South East, the council has been seeking to attract digital infrastructure companies to the area, including through its Silicon Sands initiative at the nearby Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
