Leeds City Council has unanimously given the go-ahead for a major new data centre on a former power station site.
The 15,000sqm Skelton Grange development in Stourton will include 3 data centre buildings, data halls, office space and “landscaping improvements.”
Located south east of Leeds, it was bought by Harworth for around £3m in 2014. Microsoft acquired an initial 48 acres from the real estate firm in June 2024 for £106.6m.
Microsoft was hoping to conclude the planning process at the end of last year, with site clearing due to start at the end of this year and construction beginning at the start of 2027.
READ MORE – £106.6million Microsoft deal in Yorkshire
It told the council in a report:
“Data centres host and support the digital infrastructure that underpins modern life, from patient records and emails to product data and financial systems.”
Since the turn of the year, the government has designated data centres as critical national infrastructure, which means they’re treated as national priorities – to fuel AI growth and economic development. Large projects can be classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to bypass local planning hurdles.
Microsoft’s planning application for Skelton Grange includes office and support facilities, electricity substations, urban drainage systems and EV charging.
It has also underlined its commitment to have 100% renewable energy in its data centres and eliminating the use of diesel for backup power by 2030. It’s also designing centres to use outside air for cooling, to minimise water use.
