Platform DC Seeks Planning Approval for 260,000-Square-Foot Data Center at Former Unilever Site in Warrington, UK

Plans for a 260,000 sq ft data centre on land once occupied by Unilever's laundry soap factory in Warrington have been formally submitted to Warrington Council by Platform DC.

The company first revealed its proposals for the site, which sits beside Warrington Bank Quay train station, last year and has now moved to the formal application stage. The factory ceased operations in 2020 and has since been cleared by PP O'Connor to prepare the ground for construction.

Planned AI and cloud computing capabilities

According to the submitted plans, the facility would host a range of digital operations, including artificial intelligence computing, high-performance computing, cloud services, digital infrastructure, and business data processing.

Local links and council connections

Platform DC's team includes two former Warrington Council directors, John Laverick and Steve Park, both of whom are on the company's payroll. Chief executive Neil Rustage framed the scheme as a chance to revive a site with a long industrial past.

He described the Warrington Bank Quay development as an opportunity to bring a former industrial landmark back into productive use, building on Warrington's manufacturing heritage while giving the site a new role in the digital economy.

Platform DC outlines local economic benefits

Rustage said that with demand for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure continuing to grow, Warrington is well placed to benefit from the investment, with the potential to create skilled jobs, support local businesses, and develop training opportunities for local people.

He added that the company recognises the importance of ensuring the benefits of development are felt in the surrounding community, pointing to a proposed social value programme under which it wants to work with local residents, community organisations, schools, and businesses to identify opportunities for meaningful, long-term investment.

He described the planning application as an important first step and said Platform DC looks forward to the proposal being considered through the council's planning process.

Power and cooling approach

The facility's design includes measures intended to limit its dependence on external infrastructure. It would be partly powered by on-site fuel cells, reducing reliance on the grid, while a closed-loop cooling system would be used to keep the technology cool.

If approved and built, Platform DC expects the proposal to create between 20 and 30 jobs.

Community resistance grows

The development has drawn opposition from some local residents.

A petition set up against the plans has attracted more than 4,000 signatures since June, signalling that the scheme faces significant public scrutiny as it moves through the council's planning process.