‘Billions of pounds’ of AI investment could bring hundreds of skilled jobs to North Lincolnshire

Hundreds of jobs and billions of pounds of investment could be on the way to North Lincolnshire after councillors approved plans for a major artificial intelligence data centre campus near Elsham.

The Elsham Tech Park development could attract up to £10bn of private investment, support around 900 highly skilled long-term jobs, and create thousands of construction roles over the course of a decade as the site is built out.

The campus would provide the advanced computing infrastructure needed to power the rapid global growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and high-performance data processing, helping position North Lincolnshire at the forefront of the UK’s digital economy.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The numbers attached to this project are eye-watering – almost hard to get your head around. But what really matters is what it means for residents in North Lincolnshire.

“This will bring thousands of construction jobs, hundreds of highly skilled, high-paid long-term roles, and the chance to build a new industry right here in North Lincolnshire.”

The development, given outline permission by the council’s planning committee, would create one of the largest AI data centre campuses proposed anywhere in the UK.

Alongside the permanent jobs the site could support once operational, the project is expected to generate major opportunities for local businesses through construction, engineering and manufacturing supply chains as the campus is developed in phases over a number of years.

Cllr 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.”

The development will ultimately include multiple large data centre buildings along with the energy, cooling and infrastructure needed to support next-generation AI computing system.

• Up to £10 billion of private investment proposed over the lifetime of the project
• Around 176 hectares (435 acres) of land near Elsham – a major new technology campus
• Up to 15 hyperscale data centre buildings (‘data halls’) across the site
• More than 1.5 million square metres of floorspace at full build-out
• Up to one gigawatt (1,000MW) of computing capacity, placing it among the largest AI data centre campuses proposed in the UK
• Around 900 to 1,200 highly skilled permanent jobs once operational
• Thousands of construction jobs during the phased build programme
• Construction expected to take place in phases over around a decade
• Development requiring over 100,000 tonnes of structural steel, creating opportunities for UK manufacturing supply chains