Plans to build more office space in Salford have been replaced by a proposal to construct a £250 million data center.
- The decision reflects a broader trend toward infrastructure that supports digital industries.
- DLD (Salford) Ltd, the new developer, was registered just weeks ago and has submitted the fresh proposal.
- Building projects for data centers are expanding across the UK, with significant investments observed in multiple regions.
- The UK government is pushing for smoother processes to support the rapid construction of vital infrastructure.
Plans to develop additional office space in Salford were recently set aside in favor of a new £250 million data center. This decision illustrates a shift in priorities among property developers, who are now focusing on the increasing demand for cloud computing infrastructure. DLD (Salford) Ltd, a newly established company, has submitted these fresh proposals following the recent planning approval for a different project on a 6.6-acre site near Salford Community Stadium.
DLD (Salford) Ltd plans to replace existing structures with a data center, which is part of a £250 million investment in the area. The directors of the company, David Jason and Paul Velleman, have been registering other related businesses, suggesting a wider strategy for data centers in Manchester. Still, there is no evident experience in data center construction from these directors, raising some questions about the initiative.
The increasing appetite for data center development is not limited to Salford. New projects are cropping up throughout the UK, including a £350 million center in Stockport and a £4 billion proposal in Hertfordshire. This trend is indicative of a national move towards strengthening the digital backbone of the economy.
The new UK government’s initiative seeks to address existing bottlenecks in infrastructure development, highlighting deficiencies not only in housing but also in essential services like transportation, energy, and technology-related infrastructure. These reforms could expedite data center developments.
By designating British data centers as ‘critical national infrastructure,’ the government intends to elevate their importance in national planning and development strategies. This classification underscores the strategic importance of data centers in securing economic growth and resilience in the digital age.
The focus of development in Salford exemplifies a broader national trend toward prioritizing digital infrastructure over traditional office spaces.
