Ravenscraig Set for Transformation into £3 Billion Green AI Data Hub

Image Credit: Apatura

A bold new vision is taking shape in central Scotland, where developers have announced plans to turn part of the old Ravenscraig steelworks into what could become one of the UK’s largest green AI data centres. The transformation is expected to bring thousands of jobs, attract billions in investment, and mark a major step forward in the region’s post-industrial revival.

The ambitious project is being spearheaded by Apatura, a renewable energy firm based in Edinburgh and York. Their proposal covers 160 acres of the former steel site, just under 20 kilometres from Glasgow. The development will feature a high-capacity data centre powered by 550 megawatts of clean energy, tied to future grid connections scheduled to go live by 2030.

Ravenscraig is one of five sites Apatura is progressing across Scotland’s central belt. The developer has said it would be a "green AI data centre," using constrained wind and solar generation that’s "often wasted on windy, sunny days".

Once a symbol of Scotland’s industrial strength, Ravenscraig has been dormant since the steelworks closed in 1992. Now, it's at the heart of one of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration efforts. Apatura is working in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council and Ravenscraig Ltd, the site’s owners, to breathe new life into the area.

The projected cost? A staggering £3.9 billion. But the expected returns are just as eye-catching. An independent socio-economic study found that once up and running, the data centre could boost Scotland’s GDP by an additional 0.4% annually. During construction, the project would deliver a one-time economic injection of £1.2 billion in gross value added (GVA), supporting over 16,000 job years nationwide.

In the long term, it’s expected to sustain around 2,400 jobs, both directly and indirectly, contributing £729 million in GVA each year.

Commenting on the bid, Apatura CEO Giles Hanglin said: “This proposal plays strongly to Scotland’s strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and skills – and would complement the country’s significant capabilities in big data and research.

“We’ve secured the land and grid, and we’re already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt.

“If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone, it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt.”

Russell Wilkie, director of Ravenscraig, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres, which will transform Scotland’s renewable power capabilities. With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig master plan to meet the UK’s AI infrastructure needs.

“This multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure, and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy,” Wilkie said.

The site earmarked for development sits east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, encompassing an area known as SevenFourEight – one of the last large vacant employment zones in the region. Strategically positioned with easy access to the M74 and M8 motorways, the location is a natural fit for what’s poised to become a central hub in Scotland’s digital economy.

Over the years, Ravenscraig has seen steady support from North Lanarkshire Council, including a £74 million investment into a new access road designed to unlock the site’s economic potential. Now, with Apatura’s plans moving forward, this historic landscape could soon be home to a cutting-edge data campus at the frontier of green energy and artificial intelligence.