Latest news with #RavenscraigLtd
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Plans to transform Ravenscraig into one of the UK's largest green AI data centres
Developers Apatura is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposal. It was once one of the biggest hot strip steel mills in Europe. Now plans have been unveiled to transform part of Ravenscraig into what could become one of the UK's largest green AI data centres – bringing thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of inward investment. The ambitious proposal has been put forward by Edinburgh and York based renewable energy developer Apatura, with plans to develop a major data centre with battery energy storage on 160 acres at the iconic post-industrial site, located in central Scotland, less than 20km east of Glasgow. It will be powered by 550 megawatts of grid connections due to come online by 2030. Ravenscraig is one of five AI-ready sites Apatura is progressing across Scotland's central belt, backed by over 1.6GW of confirmed grid connections, making them one of only a few UK developers ready to deliver AI infrastructure at this scale. The Ravenscraig data centre would harness Scotland's growing supply of renewables – using constrained wind and solar generation that's often wasted on windy, sunny days – helping to reduce grid congestion and lower consumer bills throughout the UK. Commenting on the bid, Apatura CEO Giles Hanglin said: 'This proposal plays strongly to Scotland's strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills – and would complement the country's significant capabilities in big data and research. 'We've secured the land and grid, and we're already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt. 'If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt.' Apatura is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposal. Last month, Apatura put forward Ravenscraig as a candidate in the UK Government's AI Growth Zone initiative which is now under consideration by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. The process is designed to identify the very best sites in Britain in what is becoming a global race for AI supremacy. The site has not yet been selected, and the bid remains under review – however, it is hoped the Ravenscraig site will be among a handful of winners selected for accelerated UK Government support. The development could be transformational for the area and the Scottish economy more broadly. It is estimated the project will cost £3.9 billion to build and an independent socio-economic study calculated that the Ravenscraig data centre would contribute an additional 0.4 per cent to Scotland's annual GDP once operational. Construction activity would deliver a one-off £1.2 billion GVA (gross value added) boost, supporting over 16,000 job years across Scotland. Ongoing annual GVA contribution is estimated at £729 million, supporting 2,399 long-term jobs. Additionally, developing high-demand data centres in Scotland's central belt could play a vital role in reducing grid constraint payments, which cost nearly £1 billion last year and are forecast to rise to £3 billion by 2030. Russell Wilkie, Director of Ravenscraig, said: 'This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland's renewable power capabilities. 'With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK's AI infrastructure needs. 'This multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure, and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy.' Once home to the Ravenscraig Steelworks, which closed in 1992, the site is now one of Europe's largest brownfield regeneration and community creation initiatives, with a masterplan focused on sustainable and inclusive growth for a mixed-use site. This latest proposal is a potent symbol of Ravenscraig's regeneration, with development earmarked for the site to the east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, and the remaining vacant employment land, known as SevenFourEight. Strategically positioned within the Ravenscraig masterplan and with direct access to both the M74 and M8 motorways, SevenFourEight is a key industrial and business centre in Scotland's central belt. Pamela Nash, MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke said: 'Ravenscraig stands ready for the next chapter, a world-class digital and AI hub powered by Scotland's renewable strength, creating thousands of local jobs during construction, driving billions in economic value, and transforming post-industrial land into the beating heart of a green, future-ready economy. 'This is the kind of joined up thinking and forward-looking delivery the UK needs. It's not just about building infrastructure, it's about rebuilding prosperity, restoring pride, and delivering a new era of sustainable industry. I look forward to seeing Ravenscraig lead the way.' Motherwell youngsters team up to promote smoke-free environments Ravenscraig has secured significant support from North Lanarkshire Council over the years, including a new £74 million access road being delivered by the council. In addition to Ravenscraig, Apatura has assembled a portfolio of a further four, grid-secured, AI-ready sites across Scotland's central belt, with grid connections totalling over 1.6GW ensuring Scotland has the best possible chance to play a leading role in the next industrial revolution.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ravenscraig site could become AI data centre in £3bn plan
Ravenscraig could be turned into one of the UK's biggest green AI data centres, under new plans put forward by a renewable energy developer. The former steelworks would become a data centre with battery energy storage, using a "supply of renewables". Developer Apatura say the £3.9bn proposal would create around 2400 jobs, of which 1044 would be permanent North Lanarkshire jobs, with 440 considered onsite roles. An independent socio-economic study calculated the centre would contribute an additional 0.4% to Scotland's annual GDP once in use. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland The plan is currently being considered by the UK government for support via its AI Growth Zone initiative, aimed at identifying the best sites in Britain for AI projects. Apatura CEO Giles Hanglin said the company hoped to confirm Scotland as "a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure" with benefits at national and local level. He said: "This proposal plays strongly to Scotland's strengths - in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills - and would complement the country's significant capabilities in big data and research. "We've secured the land and grid, and we're already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt." The estimated jobs total of 2399 combines direct, indirect, and induced roles. Apatura believe the plan - being developed with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd - could help reduce grid congestion and cut consumer bills. It forms part of the local authority's masterplan for the site, which aimed to bring housing, schools and businesses to the land. However that initiative ran into controversy in 2021 when families living in new homes furiously objected to plans to use the land for a major industrial site instead of previously proposed shops. During the coronavirus pandemic the site was transformed into a mass vaccine centre that lasted throughout the height of the pandemic. The data centre would take over the site to the east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, and vacant employment land, known as SevenFourEight. Russell Wilkie, the director of Ravenscraig, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland's renewable power capabilities. "With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK's AI infrastructure needs." Ravenscraig is one of five AI-ready sites the developer is progressing across Scotland's central belt. Plans unveiled for £200m Ravenscraig development Old steelworks plan given £66m boost
