Work has begun on the delivery of a new £350 million data centre in Stockport, delivered by Kao Data, that is engineered to power Greater Manchester’s booming AI and technology sector.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Hunter, were in attendance as work began to demolish existing buildings on the disused Kenwood Road Industrial Estate in Reddish to make way for the new data centre.
The state-of-the-art facility will further cement the city-region’s growing reputation as a major hub for technology and innovation in the UK, and ties into the GMCA’s Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint by extending the region’s world-class digital infrastructure. Once operational in 2026, the data centre will deliver unrivalled computing capabilities to regional and international organisations, providing them with one of Europe’s most advanced and sustainable hosting environments, powered by 100% certified renewable energy.
The industrial-scale, 25,900 sqm data centre will house some of the UK’s most advanced computing technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud workloads. The start of construction also comes as data centres gain Critical National Infrastructure designation from government.
The new data centre is also expected to bring numerous high-net-worth employment opportunities to the area, creating both direct and indirect jobs across construction, engineering, and operations, while attracting further tech professionals and businesses to Stockport and wider city-region.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said:
“As we continue our mission to ensure world-class digital infrastructure for the region, this new data centre will play a pivotal part in our fast-growing and diverse technology ecosystem, reinforcing our position as a global leader in AI and data centre capacity.
“This data centre can also raise aspirations and opportunities for young people, providing a window on the GM economy that they’ve never had before,” he continued. Kao Data’s plans to engage with schools and colleges and support technical career pathways for local students through the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate is exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing those plans become reality.”
Doug Loewe, CEO, Kao Data, said:
“Beginning the development stage of our new data centre marks an important milestone, not only for Kao Data, but for technology in Stockport and Greater Manchester. The city region is becoming an increasingly strategic location for digital infrastructure investment, and our new facility – the largest and most sustainable in the north of England – further reinforces Greater Manchester’s position as a digital and economic powerhouse.”
Cllr Mark Hunter said:
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Stockport to attract businesses like Kao Data to come and be based in the borough, with all the extra job opportunities and support for growing our local economy further that comes with them.
“It’s also a testament to all of the good work and investment in the borough that the Council has led on – with good support from Andy Burnham as GM Mayor – that digital and tech businesses recognise the potential of Stockport as a key location for their growth and further success.”
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