Mar 14, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
A proposed 1GW data center campus at a former RAF airbase in North Lincolnshire, UK, has received planning approval. North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee approved the Elsham Tech Park project during a meeting on Wednesday.
The data center campus would be built on land south and east of Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate, adjacent to the A15 road outside Scunthorpe. Elsham Wolds is a former RAF base that has been converted into an industrial zone.
The development would span 1.5 million sqm (16.1 million sq ft), making it one of the largest data center campuses in the UK. Plans include 15 data halls with a combined power capacity of 1GW. An on-site energy center is also proposed to generate 49.9MW to meet part of the campus’s power needs, though the energy source has not been specified.
Outline planning permission has been granted, meaning the developer, Elsham Tech Park Ltd., must submit more detailed plans before construction can begin. The project is expected to cost between £5.5 billion and £7 billion ($7.3bn–$9.37bn), though details on how it will be financed have not been disclosed.
Speaking following the decision, Rob Waltham, leader of 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 developer says the project could create 900–1,200 long-term jobs. Plans also include using waste heat from the data center for a district heating network and a greenhouse that will use excess heat to grow tomatoes. An economic report submitted with the application estimates the greenhouse could produce around 4,728 tonnes of tomatoes each year
