Harworth Group has secured planning consent to deliver a circa 500,000 sq ft data centre campus at Skelton Grange, Leeds, for Microsoft.
The site will comprise three data centre halls and auxiliary buildings to be situated on Plots 1 and 2 and circa 160,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space and EV charging on Harworth’s 16-acre adjoining plot.
Harworth sold the 27-acre Plot 1 to Microsoft in June 2024 for £51.2m and is continuing to deliver site remediation and enabling works on behalf of the technology company. Harworth will receive a further £53.2m from Microsoft for Plot 2 where it is currently delivering enabling works.
Lynda Shillaw, chief executive of Harworth, said: “Obtaining the resolution to grant planning consent is demonstrable progress towards the completion of the Plot 2 sale and reflects our close and effective collaboration with Microsoft. This transaction has driven group level value growth and facilitates investment in the region, catalysing economic growth, with Skelton Grange estimated to deliver circa £4bn of inward investment when the development completes.
“At Skelton, the 16 acres of adjoining land and our adjacent Gateway 45 site provide capacity for further development. Our powered land portfolio has a further 0.8GW of power connections, on top of our Skelton Grange site, and is well positioned to capture demand from data centre and other power-intensive sectors, providing the potential for further upside opportunities, delivering strong group level value gains and attractive shareholder returns.”
