Blackpool Council has selected HOCHTIEF Data Centre Partner UK as the preferred concessionaire to develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain the first phase of the £250 million (US$333 million) Silicon Sands data centre campus at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone in Lancashire, UK, subject to final governance approvals and contract award.  

The project is expected to attract up to £300 million of private investment into the Fylde Coast, with the private sector covering the investment, construction and operational costs. Blackpool Council, together with the Lancashire Combined County Authority, has already supported the project by assembling the required land. The development will form the first phase of the wider Silicon Sands business park, which aims to establish the region as a major hub for digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and technology businesses while creating thousands of skilled, high-value jobs. 

The first phase will comprise a 34,000 sq ft technology demonstrator data centre with a 6 MW electrical supply, together with approximately 20,000 sq ft of office and research space. Outline planning permission has already been granted for the facility, which will be located on the site of the former fire station, engineering yard, administration offices and security point at Blackpool Airport. The project is intended to demonstrate sustainable data centre technologies before the wider campus is developed. 

A key feature of Silicon Sands is its focus on sustainability. The data centre will operate using renewable energy, employ closed-loop liquid cooling to improve energy efficiency, and utilise a district heat network to capture and reuse waste heat for nearby buildings. The development will also benefit from significant supporting infrastructure, including a new 32 MVA primary substation, on-site solar power proposals and future connections to offshore wind energy in the Irish Sea, helping position Blackpool as a leader in low-carbon digital infrastructure. 

The project also leverages Blackpool's strong digital connectivity. The Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone is served by the CeltixConnect-2 subsea fibre cable, providing one of the UK's fastest transatlantic internet connections, making the location attractive for hyperscale data centres and AI-related investment. Silicon Sands has been identified as one of the Lancashire Combined County Authority's transformational growth projects and is expected to play a central role in the region's long-term economic and technological development.