Blackpool Council advances plans for first data centre at Silicon Sands
Council moves ahead with its digital infrastructure plans for the town
12 November 2025
Blackpool Council is moving ahead with proposals for a carbon-efficient data centre at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, marking a significant milestone in its wider Silicon Sands digital infrastructure initiative.
A report submitted to the council's Executive outlines plans to submit a planning application before Christmas for a 6MW data centre and 20,000 square feet of office and research space. The facility would be built on the site of the former fire station, engineering yard, and administration offices at Blackpool Airport, all of which were cleared in 2023.
The proposed development aims to leverage growing private sector interest in digital infrastructure and is part of a broader strategy to position the Fylde Coast as a hub for sustainable data centre operations and digital innovation. The project builds on the arrival of the transatlantic Aquacomms cable, a key asset for international data connectivity.
Silicon Sands sets itself apart from other global data centre projects by focusing on environmental sustainability. Plans include powering facilities with renewable energy, implementing liquid immersion cooling technology to improve energy efficiency, and reusing waste heat for neighbouring properties.
Councillor Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said the initiative had already attracted substantial private sector attention. "Silicon Sands is about so much more than just data centres," he said. "We are carefully managing the programme so that we can create data centres which are carbon friendly, and can even supply waste heat back to local communities."
The council has secured £2 million in funding through the Lancashire Devolution deal to support the development. Additionally, Silicon Sands has been designated as one of the strategic sites in the Lancashire Combined County Authority’s latest Growth Plan. The council has also submitted a bid for AI Growth Zone status, which is currently under review by the government.
If approved, the data centre will become the first major physical development within the Silicon Sands programme, which aims to support high-value employment across the region through investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and clean energy technologies.