Ravenscraig site could become AI data centre in £3bn plan

A major new project could soon transform Ravenscraig in Scotland into one of the largest green AI data centres in the United Kingdom. The developer, Apatura, has announced a £3. 9 billion plan to build a data centre that will use renewable energy and include a large battery storage system. This centre is expected to create around 2400 jobs, with over 1000 of them being permanent positions in North Lanarkshire. About 440 of these jobs would be based directly at the site, while the rest would be created indirectly through other businesses and services that support the centre.

The proposed data centre would be built on the site of the old Ravenscraig steelworks, which has been empty for some time. The new building is designed to be environmentally friendly, with green designs on its walls and a grey roof. There will also be a car park and new roads to make it easy for people to get to the centre. Apatura has already secured the land and the necessary connections to the electricity grid, which means they are ready to start building as soon as they get approval. The company is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and the landowners, Ravenscraig Ltd, to make sure the project benefits the local community.

The UK government is currently considering whether to support the project as part of its plan to find the best places in Britain for new AI developments. Apatura’s CEO, Giles Hanglin, said that the project would show that Scotland is a leader in green energy, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure. He believes the centre will help reduce congestion on the electricity grid and could even lower energy bills for consumers. An independent study found that the centre could add 0. 4 percent to Scotland’s annual GDP, which would be a significant boost to the economy. Although there was some controversy in the past when people wanted shops instead of industrial buildings on the site, the new plan focuses on creating a high-tech centre that could put Ravenscraig at the forefront of green technology in the UK. The project is part of a larger effort to bring new homes, schools, and businesses to the area, and Ravenscraig is just one of five sites in central Scotland that Apatura is developing for AI projects.