Questions over AI centre's 4,000 jobs claim

The data centre site was previously earmarked for the now cancelled Britishvolt battery factory

Claims that a new AI data centre could create about 4,000 jobs have been questioned by an MP.

US investment firm Blackstone confirmed last week it would build the facility on a site at Cambois, near Blyth in Northumberland, which had previously been earmarked for the Britishvolt battery factory.

Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, said he had been told by the House of Commons library that "big data centres" could expect to employ 1,600 people in the construction phase but only about 150 people in the operational phase.

Blackstone and Northumberland County Council have been approached for a response to Lavery's figures.

The council and government have previously said approximately 1,200 jobs would come from the project's construction, with a further 400 direct jobs at the centre.

The government's 4,000 figure appears to include a claim of approximately 2,700 indirect jobs, although the nature and location of these have not been detailed.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last week praised the investment as a "huge vote of confidence in the UK".

But, speaking on the BBC's Politics North programme, Lavery said: "I want reassurances about how local people are going to benefit from a £10bn investment in our region."

Ian Lavery (left) told the BBC's Politics North programme he wanted reassurances over local job numbers

Liam Bones, a Conservative councillor in North Tyneside, told the programme: "This is great news and I think it shouldn't be overshadowed by party politics.

"There will be high-quality, high-paid jobs in Northumberland and that fundamentally is how we deliver levelling up and break down barriers across the North East."

The Liberal Democrat leader of Durham County Council Amanda Hopgood said the jobs would not just benefit Northumberland.

"It’ll be the supply chain that goes into it," she said.

"These are jobs for the future and we need to learn from our history and learn that we need to invest in future industries so we are not reliant on any one industry again."

'History and frustration'

On Monday, Tag Greason from the Blackstone subsidiary QTS - which will operate the site if built - told a Northumberland Council committee: "This is the largest, most significant project we have in Europe. 

"I know there is a lot of history and frustration with this site. We will put that all behind and go forward."

QTS is hosting five community drop-in events later this month.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an outline planning application is expected imminently with a view to approval in the spring.

If granted, construction on the buildings would begin in 2026.

Part of the deal to purchase the site from the council included a £110m fund, paid out in stages, to invest in further employment projects across the county.