Blackstone Reaffirms £10 Billion Investment in Northumberland AI Datacentre Project
Officials from Blackstone, along with its data subsidiary QTS, have recently affirmed their commitment to developing a significant investment project in Northumberland. The US firm has announced plans to create a substantial AI datacentre campus in Cambois near Blyth, with the project estimated to cost £10 billion. The proposed campus, composed of ten buildings, is set to provide the essential computing power required for advancing artificial intelligence technologies.
The site in Cambois has previously seen numerous false starts, particularly with prior proposals to establish an electric vehicle battery "gigafactory" falling through when start-up Britishvolt entered administration. However, Blackstone and QTS representatives expressed their dedication to the new scheme at a recent Northumberland County Council meeting.
Tag Greason, QTS's chief growth officer, emphasised the project's significance for the company during his address at the council meeting. He stated, "This is the largest, most significant project we have in Europe. I know there is a lot of history and frustration with this site. We will put that all behind and go forward - the site is very well set up." Greason expressed confidence in the project's success, citing QTS's history of executing similar initiatives.
Greason also elaborated on the role of datacentres and addressed concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and its impact on employment. He explained, "A data centre is a large, secure building that houses the computing infrastructure of customers. It provides security, infrastructure, and connectivity to the internet." He continued, "AI is really interesting and really scary at the same time. I would rather be at the front seat rather than the back seat. We really do need to be thoughtful around AI. It could be the fourth wave of industry - everybody thinks AI gets rid of people, I think it enhances the workforce and lets people do more than they could without it."
To engage with the local community and provide more details about the project, QTS is organising a series of community drop-in events across south-east Northumberland. These events will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about the project and ask questions. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, October 15, at Cambois Club, Selbourne Terrace
- Wednesday, October 16, at East Bedlington Community Centre
- Tuesday, October 22, at West Bedlington Community Centre
- Wednesday, October 23, at Ashington Leisure Centre, Lintonville Terrace
- Thursday, October 24, at Blyth Sports Centre
It is anticipated that the initial planning application will be submitted in October, with the aim of securing approval by spring. Construction of the datacentres is projected to begin in 2026, with the project expected to create over 1,600 jobs, including 1,200 long-term construction positions and more than 2,700 indirect jobs.
Additionally, part of the agreement to purchase the site from Northumberland County Council includes a £110 million fund dedicated to further employment projects across the county. This fund will be released in stages as certain project milestones are achieved.
Council leader Glen Sanderson highlighted the importance of the project for the region. He noted, "It is an incredibly important time for Northumberland. The county is a live wire of a place right now, particularly in the south-east where we have enormous potential for technology." Echoing Sanderson, a QTS spokeswoman expressed eagerness to collaborate with local stakeholders to advance the project.
Amazon Initiates Groundbreaking $11 Billion Data Centre Project in Indiana
In a parallel development, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has broken ground on a landmark $11 billion data centre in New Carlisle, Indiana. The groundbreaking ceremony held at the Century Center in South Bend saw attendances from dignitaries including Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and U.S. Representative Rudy Yakym. This project is anticipated to bring significant economic benefits to the South Bend area.
Congressman Yakym noted, "This record-breaking project will bring over $11 billion in investment and hundreds of jobs to the South Bend area. Thanks to leaders at all levels who came together to make this transformative project for our region a reality."
The data centre, located in St. Joseph County, is expected to employ around 1,000 workers. AWS projects that the initiative will contribute approximately $4.7 billion to Indiana's gross domestic product and support 3,000 jobs. Governor Holcomb expressed excitement about the project, highlighting its potential to create career opportunities and boost the state's burgeoning tech sector.
Kevin Miller, AWS's global data centres vice president, emphasised the company's long-term commitment to Indiana. He said, "The strong spirit of partnership we’ve seen from local and state officials, community colleges, and community organisations inspired great confidence as we developed our plans in the region. We’re committed to investing long-term in Indiana to help accelerate local workforce development, deliver new education programmes for people of all ages, improve local infrastructure, and make a positive impact on this community as a great place for Hoosiers to live, work, and thrive."
The state's largest capital investment project also includes significant contributions from Amazon for road improvements near the data centre site. This initiative is part of Indiana’s broader strategy to attract data centre developments bolstered by competitive tax policies, including the Indiana Data Centre Tax Incentive which offers extended tax exemptions.
Other tech giants are also making substantial investments in Indiana, positioning the state as a burgeoning hub for data centres due to increased demand driven by artificial intelligence and data usage. Notably, Microsoft plans a $1 billion data centre in LaPorte, whilst Google and Meta have announced significant investments in Fort Wayne and Jeffersonville, respectively.
These projects underscore Indiana's growing prominence in the tech sector and signal continued economic development and job creation in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services