Case Study

N3​

N3

  • Location: Blyth, Northumberland

  • Year: 2024-25

  • Gross Development Cost: £10bn

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Salamanca Group advised on the acquisition the 300-acre brownfield site and structured its sale to Blackstone to develop the UK’s largest AI data centre campus.

QTS are working towards the delivery of its state-of-the-art data centre campus, totaling up to 540,000 sq.m.

Key Metrics

£10bn

Of international investment secured through the development of the AI Data Campus by Blackstone.

c. 1GW

Of renewable energy to be secured to power the development

£110m

Initial Blackstone investment into a fund for skills training and transport infrastructure for the region

The Vision

To create a Silicon Valley scale impact in the north-east, enhancing the region’s competitiveness and attracting further investment.

The Outcomes

Situated near Blyth, Northumberland, the brownfield site needed to be reimagined to fulfil its economic potential and drive growth.​

The site has served the UK’s industrial needs for many decades as a source of energy generation. Salamanca Group worked with Northumberland County Council to facilitate the opportunity to repurpose the site’s economic role.​​ We purchased the land from the local authority through Renaissance Land Ltd and then sold it to Blackstone.

QTS, a Blackstone-owned digital infrastructure developer and operator, is working towards the delivery of its state-of-the-art data centre campus, totaling up to 540,000 sq.m. The campus will represent a significant inward investment of up to £10billion, one of the largest in the UK.

UK, at the forefront of the AI revolution

In partnership with Blackstone, Salamanca Group will advise and progress the securing of necessary infrastructure and connectivity to host a data centre at the proposed scale.

​Outline planning permission for the development was approved by Northumberland County Council in March 2025, and a 1.1GW of renewable energy connection has been secured for 2029.

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