Plans in for first phase of Cambois Data Centre Campus

Enabling works on the £10bn AI and cloud computing hub near Blyth will commence at the end of this year, with construction of the first phase of data centres scheduled for early 2026.

Phase A is expected to complete around 2029, and covers the south and south west part of the former Blyth Power Station site.

Four more phases will follow, with a final completion date estimated for 2035.

When complete, the data center campus will house up to 10 buildings, totaling around 6m sq ft.

Quod submitted the application on behalf of QTS, the real estate company which will operate the site, for phase A enabling works, which were reserved as part of the outline planning permission granted in March. 

Blyth Power Station closed in 2001 and was demolished in 2003 and was previously earmarked for a £3.8bn Britishvolt gigafactory site for electric vehicle battery production, until the company went into administration in 2023.

The vacant brownfield site is approximately 250-acres, located to the west and south of Cambois village, around 30km north of Newcastle.