Brownfield site earmarked for AI data centre

A vacant brownfield site could be brought back into use with the development of a new AI-ready data centre in East Manchester.

Latos Data Centres has submitted plans to Manchester City Council for a Neural Edge facility on the corner of Bower Street and Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath.

The application follows a public consultation earlier this year and would see the site, close to the Lowry Park industrial area and Rochdale Canal, transformed to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence computing.

Unlike conventional cloud data centres, Neural Edge facilities bring computing closer to end users to reduce latency, supporting applications including augmented reality, smart manufacturing and predictive healthcare.

The proposed Latos Manchester East development would comprise two buildings positioned away from neighbouring homes to minimise potential impacts.

Existing trees would be retained where possible, with additional planting creating a landscaped buffer and enhancing the canal-side setting.

Plans also incorporate measures focused on energy and water efficiency, sustainable drainage, biodiversity and responsible material use.

Andrew Collin, managing director at Latos Data Centres, said: “We are pleased to have submitted our planning application to Manchester City Council. 

“Manchester is a leading digital city, and this proposal supports its continued growth by providing the cutting-edge digital infrastructure Manchester needs. 

“Our ambition is to deliver a high-quality, sustainable data centre designed to meet rigorous environmental and safety standards. 

“We are committed to being a responsible neighbour and will continue to engage with the community and the Council throughout the planning process and beyond.”

A decision on the application is expected in the coming months.

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