Hundreds of skilled jobs and billions of pounds in private investment could be on the way to North Lincolnshire after councillors approved plans for a major artificial intelligence data centre campus near Elsham.

The proposed Elsham Tech Park development, which received planning permission from North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee, could attract up to £10 billion of private investment and support around 900 to 1,200 highly skilled long-term jobs once fully operational.

The project would transform 176 hectares (435 acres) of land near Elsham into one of the largest artificial intelligence data centre campuses proposed in the UK, with up to 15 hyperscale data centre buildings providing more than 1.5 million square metres of floorspace.

If completed at full scale, the campus could deliver up to one gigawatt (1,000MW) of computing capacity, helping to power the rapid global growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and high-performance data processing.

Construction of the site is expected to take place in phases over around a decade, creating major employment opportunities. Estimates suggest the build programme could support between 2,600 and 3,600 jobs annually during the construction phase, both on and off site.

Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said the scale of the project would bring transformative benefits to the region.

“The numbers attached to this project are eye-watering – almost hard to get your head around,” he said. “But what really matters is what it means for residents in North Lincolnshire.

“This will bring thousands of construction jobs, hundreds of highly skilled, high-paid long-term roles, and the chance to build a new industry right here in North Lincolnshire.”

In addition to the data centres themselves, the development would include a dedicated energy centre capable of generating up to 49.9MW of electricity per year. Waste heat produced by the data centre’s cooling systems would be repurposed to support a nearby greenhouse complex, creating an innovative circular energy model.

According to an accompanying economic report, the greenhouse could produce around 4,728 tonnes of tomatoes annually and support approximately 64 additional jobs.

Plans for the campus also include a range of on-site amenities such as a creche, café, gym and small shop, which would be available to workers at both the new development and the surrounding industrial estate.

Alongside the permanent roles created once the campus is operational, the project is expected to generate significant opportunities for local businesses through construction, engineering and manufacturing supply chains. The development will require more than 100,000 tonnes of structural steel, creating further potential demand for UK industry.

Cllr Waltham described the project as a defining moment for the area’s economic future.

“This is a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity,” he said. “North Lincolnshire remains a place where major industries choose to invest, grow and create jobs.”

If delivered as planned, the Elsham Tech Park campus could position North Lincolnshire as a key hub for next-generation AI computing infrastructure within the UK’s rapidly expanding digital economy

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