Blackpool's ambitious Silicon Sands data centre business park pressing ahead as opponents plan demonstration
"It’s important that Silicon Sands is not confused with the large-scale data centres that people may have read about elsewhere in the world.”
Blackpool Council is planning to reach out to residents to explain how a prestigious Blackpool data centre business park - expected to bring up to £14 billion to the region - will operate.
The Silicon Sands scheme has been hailed by Blackpool Council as a ‘game changer’ which will attract top companies and much-needed high quality jobs to the town.
However, the council says it is aware that some residents are concerned about its environmental impact and the scheme is being opposed by both a petition and a demonstration which is being staged this week.
Opponents say AI Data Centres will generate significant levels of light, noise and waste pollution which will cause damage to the environment for both residents and wildlife.
Earlier this year a petition was launched by Elizabeth Brownsword, a 32 year old who works in education, which now has 1,431 signatures, as of Monday night.
And this Friday (November 6) a demonstration is set to held at noon, close to where Silicon Sands is to be built, at near Hangar 3 on Squires Gate Lane.
Blackpool Council says Silicon Sands should not be confused with the large-scale data centres that have attracted opposition elsewhere in the world. The Blackpool project will be run entirely differently, the authority insists.
And to counteract confusion over how it will operate, a series of community engagement sessions are being planned so residents can find out more about the project.
Demonstration organisers calling themselves 'Stop Silicon Sands' stated on their Facebook site: "Meet with us to oppose Silicon Sands, a proposed data centre campus being built on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone site.
"Find out how this project will affect you as a local resident and join us in holding Blackpool Council accountable to its many promises.
"Gather near Hangar 3 on Squires Gate Lane."
The organisers say their campaign is being jointly supported by the Green Party Blackpool and Fylde, the Anti Data Centre Alliance and Doing Something About It.
What the council says
A Blackpool Council spokesperson said this week: "The site for the first exemplar data centre has been cleared and following a competitive procurement process, HOCHTIEF Data Centre Partner UK Ltd (HOCHTIEF DCPUK) has been appointed to deliver the facility.
"Work is continuing to complete the contracts, with a view to building works commencing on site towards the end of 2027."
Responding to opposition to Silicon Sands, Cllr Jane Hugo, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for climate change, said: "It’s important that Silicon Sands is not confused with the large-scale data centres that people may have read about elsewhere in the world.
"Silicon Sands plans to do data centres differently, putting sustainability and local benefit at its core.
“We have a real opportunity in Blackpool to lead the way in greener, sustainable digital infrastructure, by creating a data centre that operates using renewable energy, uses closed loop water cooling and maximises opportunities to reuse waste heat for local buildings.
"The wider Silicon Sands project is about much more than a single building. It is about creating a digital business campus that can attract investment to the Fylde Coast, supporting innovation, creating well-paid jobs and providing new opportunities for local people and future generations.
"We understand that some residents have questions and concerns about the plans for Silicon Sands, and we welcome that conversation. This is a significant opportunity for Blackpool and it's important that people have access to accurate information about what is being proposed.
“We’re working with delivery partner Hochtief to plan a series of community engagement sessions early next year, where local residents and businesses will be able to find out more about the plans for Silicon Sands.
"We remain committed to engaging with residents as plans progress and ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of the project."
The petition can be viewed at: https://c.org/FyNvdtVrr4