LDC gets green light for £1bn data centre

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 20:13

PLANS for one of the world's largest data centres have been given the green light by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Developer Lockerbie Data Centre (LDC) yesterday received planning in principle for the near- 1 billion, 250,000 square metre project on the edge of the town, meaning it no longer has to be referred to Scottish ministers.

LDC, a subsidiary of Scottish construction company Robison & Davidson, said the 950m scheme will create the largest data centre in Europe, attracting more than 3.5bn in inward investment and create 3,000 jobs during its five to ten-year construction phase.

LDC project director David King said he will now go back to potential investors and customers who have expressed an interest. "You can see the real potential now that we have planning consent," he said.

LDC is meeting US executives from Barclays Bank over the coming weeks to discuss opportunities from both an investment and end-user point of view. Chief executive John Hume said Royal Bank of Scotland provided funding towards its purchase of the land at Lockerbie.

A data centre houses computer systems and components. LDC said that more businesses and public-sector organisations are moving operations into purpose-built centres to save money and increase security.

The Lockerbie development will also include a 18,000sqm business park for internet companies, creating up to 900 jobs. There will be a horticultural research park and commercial greenhouses that will bring an additional 90 jobs. The data centre itself will create 50 jobs and ten for estate management.

King said that plans to build 600 homes as part of a vision to create a New Lanark-style, self-sufficient, "green" village have been dropped following discussions with the council.

He dismissed recent reports that a Shell-owned gas pipeline that crosses the development could be dangerous and deter companies from locating at the site, partly on fears of the possible impact of a terrorist attack.

Scotland is attractive for data centres as its relatively cool climate saves on energy costs. The Lockerbie centre will generate some of its power from wind and biomass sources.

King said there could be a dozen data centres the size of the one planned for Lockerbie in the UK in the next five years. "We would expect half to be in Scotland, and there's no reason why they shouldn't all be here," he said.