Enabling works start on £10bn UK data centre campus

A rendering of the site in Blyth. (Photo: QTS)

As part of its role on the project, Rainton is preparing the site ahead of main construction, undertaking compound setup, vegetation clearance, perimeter repairs and extensive earthworks.

The works also include the formation of sustainable drainage (SuDS) ponds and the installation of drainage systems to meet local‑authority standards. 

QTS secured planning approval from Northumberland County Council for the enabling works in August.

The project is being supported by investment funds managed by affiliates of Blackstone.

The data centre, located on the former power‑station site in Cambois, near Blyth, will be QTS’s first data centre in the UK, adding to its portfolio of more than 75 across the US and Europe.

The company said the Cambois campus is part of its European expansion plans and will provide infrastructure to support AI, cloud computing, and high-performance digital services.

The development is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs, with a target of filling around 50% of roles from local communities. QTS has also launched a Social Value Programme, which includes apprenticeships, paid internships, work placements, and initiatives to upskill the local workforce. The programme also aims to support local supply chains and small businesses.

The start of enabling works was marked by a ceremony attended by nearly 200 stakeholders, including QTS Co-CEO Tag Greason, AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, and Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson.

Greason said, “QTS is thrilled to have officially started work on the site of our data centre campus. While this is the first step in a long journey, it is a visible milestone of progress made possible by the support of the local community and Northumberland County Council.

“We want to have a lasting positive impact on the North East, which is why we’ve announced our commitment to create more than a thousand new jobs – boosting the skills of hundreds of local people in the coming years.”