Elsham Tech Park is a 176‑hectare hyperscale technology campus on the former RAF Elsham Wolds near Scunthorpe, set to become the UK’s largest artificial intelligence data centre campus. The £7.5bn development will deliver more than 1.5 million m² of data centre floorspace across 15 data halls, supported by an on‑site energy centre, substations, battery energy storage, district heating infrastructure and flexible commercial space.
BE Design have helped shape the project’s energy and sustainability strategy, targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and embedding circular‑economy principles to reduce embodied carbon in construction. Key low‑carbon features include renewable energy integration, biomass‑fuelled heat and power, and energy‑efficient greenhouses that reuse waste heat. Extensive landscape bunds and new planting are proposed to minimise visual impact and integrate the campus into the surrounding countryside, while a 10‑year build programme is expected to support thousands of construction jobs annually across the supply chain.
Outline planning approval marks a major milestone for UK digital infrastructure, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027 and the first phase scheduled to open in 2029.
