Plans for one of the UK’s largest proposed AI data centre campuses have been approved in North Lincolnshire, with councillors backing the Elsham Tech Park scheme.
The development would transform 176 hectares of land at the former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield into a large-scale campus for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-performance data processing. If fully built out, the site would include up to 15 hyperscale data centre buildings providing more than 1.5 million square metres of floorspace and up to 1GW of computing capacity.
That scale would place Elsham Tech Park among the biggest AI data centre proposals in the UK, underlining the growing demand for digital infrastructure as AI workloads continue to rise.
The project could attract up to £10 billion of private investment and bring around 900 to 1,200 highly skilled long-term jobs to the area once operational. The construction phase, which is expected to take place over the course of 10 years, could support between 2,600 and 3,600 full-time equivalent jobs annually, both on and off site.
Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, noted, “The numbers attached to this project are eye-watering… but what really matters is what it means for residents in North Lincolnshire.”
Alongside the data halls, the scheme includes an on-site energy centre capable of generating up to 49.9MW, as well as battery storage, substations, district heating plant, and flexible commercial space. There are also plans for a greenhouse complex that would use waste heat from the data centre cooling systems to support agricultural production.
That heat reuse element is one of the more notable parts of the proposal. According to the project’s economic case, the greenhouse could produce around 4,728 tonnes of tomatoes a year and support about 64 additional jobs. It is the kind of circular economy argument developers are increasingly keen to make as data centres come under greater scrutiny for their energy demands.
The wider masterplan also includes on-site amenities such as a crèche, café, gym, and small shop, which would be available to workers on the campus and the surrounding industrial estate.
The project is being fronted by Elsham Tech Park Ltd, a company created for the scheme and overseen by Greystoke, a specialist planning and infrastructure developer. According to Greystoke, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase due to open in 2029.
Waltham added, “This is a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity. North Lincolnshire remains a place where major industries choose to invest, grow and create jobs.”
