A proposed data centre campus near Altrincham could bring a significant new infrastructure project to the North West.

Developer Innova has outlined plans for the Spodegreen Data Centre on a site of around 60 hectares in Little Bollington, close to the M56 and A556. The proposal is still at an early stage, with surveys and public consultation taking place before a planning application is submitted.

For Bauhaus Recruitment, the most interesting part of the proposal is the range of skills a campus of this kind could require. Building and fitting out data centres involves much more than the data halls themselves. Projects can call for engineers and teams experienced in containment, copper and fibre cabling, fibre splicing and testing, rack and stack, security systems and site supervision.

There is also the longer term picture. Innova estimates that the completed campus could support approximately 350 full-time jobs. Its plans include a training facility, called the Living Lab, intended to support apprenticeships and introduce young people to careers in technology and construction.

The scheme has yet to receive planning permission, and no construction timetable has been confirmed. Even so, it is an indication of the scale of data centre development being considered in the region and the importance of building a skilled local workforce to support it.

Bauhaus Recruitment supplies experienced engineers and technical personnel to data centre projects across the UK and Europe. We’ll be watching how the Little Bollington proposal progresses.

If you’re planning a data centre installation or looking for experienced engineers for an upcoming project, get in touch with our team.