Data centre 'would bring AI industry' to city

A decision on the plan is expected by October

A data centre planned for the outskirts of Bradford would "allow the region to benefit from new rapidly growing industries such as AI," according to a planning application.

The proposal would see the computer facility building developed on Listerhills Road, near the junction with Thornton Road, and next to an energy centre which is under construction.

Submitted by Deep Green Technologies Ltd, the application said the centre would "serve a range of businesses and universities" across the UK.

A decision on the application is expected to be made in October.

The data centre would house large amounts of computing equipment and servers, enabling it to be used by multiple businesses which rely on data processing, such as the growing Artificial Intelligence industry, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application said businesses and universities across the north of England could use the centre.

The vacant site, on one of the main routes into the city centre, is currently undergoing a major redevelopment.

The energy centre being constructed by 1energy will use air source heat pumps to provide low carbon heating to a number of buildings in the city, including Bradford City Hall and the city's law courts.

The area that the data centre would be built on is currently used to store materials for the construction of the energy centre.

Four emergency generators are included in the plans to keep the facility running in the event of a power cut.

The application said any excess heat from the centre would be used to provide energy to the 1energy facility and therefore could help reduce the energy bills of organisations signed up to the District Heat Network.

The plans said the data centre would "provide critical digital services" to the city and northern England which would "enhance infrastructure and allow the region to benefit from new rapidly growing industries such as AI".

It also said it would serve universities across the UK.

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