Blackstone bosses confident £10 billion data centre plan at Cambois in Northumberland will be ‘enormously successful’.
Blackstone is financing the creation of an AI data centre campus at Cambois near Blyth that will be operated by its data subsidiary QTS.
The campus, made up of 10 buildings, will provide the necessary computing power needed to drive emerging AI technology.
There have been a series of false dawns on the site relating to previous proposals to build an electric vehicle battery ‘gigafactory’.
Hopes of a transformational project bringing thousands of skilled jobs were dashed when start-up Britishvolt went into administration.
Tag Greason, QTS chief growth officer speaking at a Northumberland County Council meeting, said:
This is the largest, most significant project we have in Europe. I know there is a lot of history and frustration with this site. We will put that all behind and go forward – the site is very well set up.
“We’re very excited to move things forward. I can promise this is not our first rodeo. Our current track record can be seen over many different projects.
“This will be an enormously successful project that we will all look back on and say ‘that’s amazing’.”
Mr Greason also explained more about the concept of data centres and addressed concerns around artificial intelligence and jobs.
He said: “A data centre is a large, secure building that houses the computing infrastructure of customers. It provides security, infrastructure and connectivity to the internet.
“We’re the landlord of companies like Microsoft, Google or Amazon. We don’t control their computers, we provide the infrastructure to allow all the internet to work.
“When you do mobile banking or call an Uber, all of that comes from the infrastructure that sits in data centres. AI is really interesting and really scary at the same time. I would rather be at in the front seat rather than the back seat.
“We really do need to be thoughtful around AI. It could be the fourth wave of industry – everybody thinks AI gets rid of people, I think it enhances the workforce and lets people do more than they could without it.”
QTS are hosting a series of community drop-in events from 4pm until 7pm at the following:
- Tuesday, October 15 – Cambois Club, Selbourne Terrace
- Wednesday, October 16 – East Bedlington Community Centre
- Tuesday, October 22 – West Bedlington Community Centre
- Wednesday, October 23 – Ashington Leisure Centre, Lintonville Terrace
- Thursday, October 24 – Blyth Sports Centre
It is anticipated that an outline planning application will be submitted in October with a view for approval in the spring. Construction on the buildings themselves will then begin in 2026.
The data centre is expected to create more than 1,600 jobs – including 1,200 long-term construction jobs – and more than 2,700 indirect jobs. Officials said they would look to work with the region’s educational establishments, including Northumberland College, to ensure local people had the correct skills to find employment at the site.
As well as the £10 billion investment into the site, part of the deal to purchase the site from the county council included a £110 million fund that will be used by the council to invest in further employment projects across the county. This money will be paid out in tranches as certain milestones, such as the securing of planning permission, are met.
Glen Sanderson Council leader said:
It is an incredibly important time for Northumberland. The county is a livewire of a place right now, particularly in the south east where we have an enormous potential for technology.
“The future is looking very bright in that part of the world, and now looks even brighter. This agreement will bring significant employment opportunities, and not just in the short-term because of the investment ring-fenced for employment and jobs.”
Speaking after the meeting, a spokeswoman for QTS said:
We look forward to continuing to work together with the council, the local community and local stakeholders to progress this exciting project.
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Blackstone bosses confident £10 billion data centre plan at Cambois in Northumberland will be ‘enormously successful’. source
