Hochtief wins preferred bidder role for Silicon Sands campus
Blackpool Borough Council has selected Hochtief Data Centre Partner UK as the preferred bidder to deliver the first phase of the Silicon Sands data centre campus at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. The arrangement is being procured as a concession under the Procurement Act 2023 and has an estimated value of £250m excluding VAT (approximately £300m including VAT).
The council will make the development land available via a 250‑year lease. The project brief covers construction of data halls alongside ancillary office accommodation, with works including commercial building construction, heating and ventilation systems and the provision of servers and computer network services. Hochtief is also expected to connect heat produced by the data centre to a proposed local heat network serving the Silicon Sands site.
What the campus will include
The council’s masterplan sets out a substantial ground-floor footprint and supporting infrastructure intended to attract high‑performance computing users:
- Gross ground-floor area: 19,500 square metres across the site
- New access roads, centralised parking and public transport links
- Landscaped areas and ancillary office space
Planned energy infrastructure detailed in council documents comprises a confirmed 32MVA primary substation, a 20MVA solar farm and 50MW of battery storage. The masterplan also identifies possible private-wire connections to renewable generators and a potential link to offshore wind generation in the Irish Sea.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract type | Concession (Procurement Act 2023) |
| Lease term | 250 years |
| Estimated value | £250m (ex VAT) / £300m (inc VAT) |
| Footprint | 19,500 sqm (gross ground floor) |
Local economic aims and timetable
Blackpool Council says the campus is intended to support skilled employment, raise education opportunities and drive inward investment in digital and technology sectors. The site is being pitched to companies working in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, gaming, financial services and medical technology — sectors that rely on high‑performance computing.
Three tenders reached the final stage of the council’s competitive flexible procedure. EdgeSynergies and Deep Green Technologies were not chosen. The council made the award decision on 21 July and issued assessment summaries to tenderers on 22 July. A mandatory standstill period runs until 4 August; the contract is expected to be signed on 1 October.
What this means for residents and businesses
The development represents one of the largest single technology investments announced for the borough in recent years. If progressed as planned it will require construction skills, engineering and technical roles during the build phase and support roles for ongoing operations. The proposal to feed waste heat into a local heat network could also create a new energy asset for the enterprise zone and nearby developments.
Further details on job numbers, construction timelines and community benefits will be confirmed as the council and preferred bidder move to contract signature. The standstill period allows for any legal challenges from other tenderers before the agreement is finalised.
