Data centre plan for Stockton
A “ground-breaking” technology centre could put Teesside at the heart of a global AI revolution, say developers.
Stockton-based tech company Latos says its first data centre could be a “pivotal moment” for the region which could create 150 jobs and support an additional 400 jobs in the local supply chain. It has applied for planning permission to build the centre near Westland Way on Preston Farm Industrial Estate near Thornaby and Oxbridge, Stockton.
The “benchmark facility”, meant to meet the demands of AI and advanced computing, will consist of two commercial units, plants and substations with fencing, landscaping, road access and other works, with customer and staff offices and welfare facilities.
It is touted as “precision-engineered for urban and remote sites” and “future-ready infrastructure for AI-driven demand”. The developer says it will meet changing demands with quicker data, improved security, greater reliability and increased storage capacity at a time where “every aspect of life has now become dependent on the use of online data”.
Agent Create Architecture says in a design and access statement: “The proposal is to create a new-build Latos data facility. The scheme will include two data centres with associated office and plant space, parking, vehicular routes and landscaping.
“The building will be the first built data centre for Latos and therefore be a benchmark facility of high design quality and efficient use of spaces.
“The business use case for this proposal is to build the first Latos data centre in Teesside, the place where the company was founded. The proposed site allows for the space that the company requires, it is located in an area of land that is dedicated for this type of use, near businesses of a similar type, and also allows good access for their customers and operations via close proximity to the A66.”
It says the aim is to create “an exemplar data centre facility which will assist with regeneration of the heavy industry industrial area for Teesside and the immediate environment”. It says excess power and heat will be stored and used for the centre or “to benefit local communities via battery storage”.
The agent goes on: “Latos Data Centre Stockton will a be a Neural Data Centre which is a new kind of data centre — purpose-built for high-speed compute, real-time AI, and seamless integration into the environments that demand the most processing power. Compact yet capable, it delivers enterprise-grade performance without the sprawl, enabling intelligent systems to operate closer to where insights are made.”
It details “two neighbouring blocks of the same height”, with “data halls” taking up a third of each of the proposed buildings: “The remainder is sized to accommodate customer, personnel and ancillary staff, with all of their welfare needs and internal plant and ancillary spaces.” The proposals also include six parking bays, five electric vehicle charging bays, 10 cycle spaces and security fencing.
Marketing director Peter Wilcock said: “Planning has been submitted for a Neural Edge data centre in Stockton-on-Tees, marking a pivotal moment for the region as it could potentially become home to one of the world’s most advanced AI infrastructure facilities. This ground-breaking investment reinforces Teesside’s position as a leading destination for transformational technology and positions the local community at the epicentre of the global artificial intelligence revolution.
“The Neural Edge facility represents a fundamental shift in how data processing and artificial intelligence capabilities are delivered, bringing unprecedented computational power directly to where it’s needed most. Unlike traditional centralised data centres, Latos’s Neural Edge technology processes AI workloads locally, delivering sub-millisecond response times that enable real-time decision-making for everything from autonomous vehicles to advanced medical diagnostics.
“This proximity-based approach to AI processing makes Stockton-on-Tees a critical node in the global intelligence network that will power the next decade of technological advancement. The investment delivers significant economic benefits to the region, creating 150 high-skilled technical positions over the next three years while supporting an estimated 400 additional jobs in the local supply chain.
“Beyond immediate employment opportunities, the facility will serve as a catalyst for attracting AI-focused businesses to Teesside, with early indications suggesting at least five technology companies are already exploring relocation to capitalise on the ultra-low latency capabilities the Neural Edge provides. Local educational institutions will benefit from partnership opportunities, with Latos committing to establish an AI Excellence Centre that will train the next generation of neural network engineers and data scientists.
“If the application is successful Stockton-on-Tees will be positioned at the very heart of the AI revolution. Neural Edge technology doesn’t just bring advanced computing capabilities to the region – it fundamentally transforms how businesses across the North East can leverage artificial intelligence to compete on a global scale.
“This investment demonstrates Latos’s confidence in Teesside’s workforce, infrastructure, and strategic importance to the UK’s technological future.”