North Lincolnshire Council has unanimously approved plans for the Elsham Tech Park, a sprawling AI data centre campus near Scunthorpe, setting the stage for a significant industrial shift in the region. The decision, made this week, comes despite stark warnings that the facility’s projected carbon footprint will rival that of all domestic flights in the UK.

Council documents estimate the site’s indirect emissions from electricity use will hit roughly one million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by the mid-2030s. For comparison, UK domestic aviation currently emits about 1.2 million tonnes. The council argued the impact was acceptable due to the site's location near the Humber region's clean energy sources, overriding concerns about its vast power demand.

Developed by Greystoke, the project promises substantial economic transformation. Plans outline up to 15 buildings with a combined computing capacity of one gigawatt, positioning it among the UK's largest proposed data centres. Proponents say it will bring nearly 900 long-term technical jobs, thousands of construction roles, and could attract £10 billion in private investment.

"The scale of this project is staggering," said North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham. "It's a generational opportunity to build a new industry here."

However, the approval faces criticism. Tim Squirrell of tech justice group Foxglove accused the council of ignoring its own policy requiring 20% on-site renewable energy and accepting flawed emissions estimates. "Prioritising speculative AI growth over the climate crisis is deeply disappointing," he stated.

The developer emphasizes environmental measures, including biodiversity plans and a water-efficient, closed-loop cooling system. Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with partial operations by 2029. Yet, questions about power feasibility linger, highlighted by another stalled Greystoke-backed project in Essex, which remains a scaffolding yard months from its scheduled completion.

Source: The Guardian