AI data centre and solar farm planned for north of Scunthorpe
Rivington Energy has started a six-week pre-application consultation
Last updated 24 hours ago
Plans for another AI data centre in North Lincolnshire have emerged. Rivington Energy has started a six-week pre-application consultation on its vision of an AI data centre and accompanying solar farm on land off Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, about 1.5 miles east of Flixborough.
It would be called Conesby Data Centre Campus and comprise state-of-the-art data centres, with power for them partly supplied by an on-site solar farm. Rivington Energy plans to submit a planning application to North Lincolnshire Council.
As it prepares for this, it is seeking local community feedback to shape the submission. A community consultation event will take place on Tuesday, May 12, from 3pm to 7:30pm, Central Community Centre, 26 Lindum St, Scunthorpe, DN15 6QU.
The overall consultation period is open until May 31, with members of the public able to also send their comments via an online form, email, or by post to Conesby Data Centre, 20 Central Avenue, St Andrews Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0HR. The online form and more detail about the project can be viewed here: https://rivingtonenergy.co.uk/data-centres/ .
Given it is at pre-application stage, there are limited specifics about how the site would look. But it is stated data centre buildings would have a height of approximately 26 metres and have a footprint of approximately 12,500m² including plant gantries and ancillary buildings.
The data centre campus would cover 20 acres and it is stated the centres have been designed to have closed loop systems, meaning they require minimal water use. A solar farm is planned on an adjacent 80 acres.
Construction of the data centre campus would be expected to take nine to 12 months. It is anticipated 400-600 direct jobs will be created during construction, with a peak on-site workforce of approximately 125 workers.
Once operational, the project is expected to create around 14 full-time, long-term jobs. These would have average salaries exceeding the national average.
It is also estimated Conesby Data Centre Campus would contribute around £2.6m in business rates. Rivington also states once operational, the on-site team will deliver talks to schools, colleges and universities, to give career talks and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) presentations.
The Rivington website for Conesby Data Centre Campus also highlights that the scheme “aligns with the vision for the Northern Lincolnshire AI Growth Zone”. The scheme is not directly connected to NLAIGZ, which envisions northern Lincolnshire becoming a national hub for AI and advanced digital infrastructure.
NLAIGZ has had the backing of local MPs and been identified as a “high-potential opportunity” by Government ministers in February. The Government is creating AI Growth Zones, with expected benefits for areas to include easier planning permissions for AI infrastructure, accelerated clean power supplies, and boosted private capital investment.
The council and Greystoke have developed NLAIGZ. Outline permission has been granted already for two major AI data centres in North Lincolnshire. Humber Tech Park will be located near South Killingholme, while Elsham Tech Park will be close to Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate and the UK’s largest data centre development.