Latos plans AI-ready data centre for east Manchester

Latos Data Centres has submitted a planning application for a data centre in Newton Heath, east Manchester. The proposed site is a vacant brownfield plot on Bower Street near the Rochdale Canal.

Described as an AI-ready Neural Edge data centre, the project would be built across two buildings. The layout places the buildings furthest from neighbouring homes to reduce potential effects on nearby residents.

The application has been submitted to Manchester City Council following a public consultation earlier this year. A decision is expected in the coming months.

The site is at the corner of Bower Street and Ten Acres Lane, close to the Lowry Park industrial area. If approved, the scheme would bring disused land back into use and add another data infrastructure project to Greater Manchester's digital economy.

Neural edge facilities are designed to place computing capacity closer to users rather than relying solely on larger, centralised cloud sites. This model is intended to reduce latency for uses including augmented reality, smart manufacturing and predictive healthcare.

Site design

Plans for the Manchester scheme include retaining existing trees where possible and adding new planting around the site. The landscaping is intended to create a buffer and improve the canal-side setting.

The design also includes environmental measures covering energy efficiency in the layout and building fabric, along with water efficiency, sustainable drainage, biodiversity and material use.

Founded in 2021, Latos is building a portfolio of data centres across the UK. Its first UK facility is a £100m AI-ready data centre in Stockton-on-Tees, with other sites under way nationally.

The Manchester proposal reflects growing interest in regional data centre development beyond established clusters in and around London. Demand linked to artificial intelligence workloads has led operators to look for sites that can serve urban areas while remaining close to end users.

Local focus

Create Architecture designed the scheme. Euan Kellie Property Solutions is advising on planning, CW Studio is the landscape architect and SK Transport Planning is advising on transport matters.

In Manchester, the application points to continued efforts to attract digital infrastructure investment to former industrial land. Newton Heath and surrounding districts have seen renewed attention for industrial and logistics uses, and the canal-side brownfield plot fits that wider pattern of regeneration-led development.

The planning process is likely to focus on the balance between economic investment, land reuse and the local environmental impact of data infrastructure. Data centres can bring construction work and specialist jobs, but they also face scrutiny over energy use, water demand, traffic and visual impact.

Latos said the proposal has been shaped with environmental and safety standards in mind and that it intends to continue engaging with the community and the council as the application moves through planning.

Andrew Collin, managing director, Latos Data Centres, said: "We are pleased to have submitted our planning application to Manchester City Council. Manchester is a leading digital city, and this proposal supports its continued growth by providing the cutting-edge digital infrastructure Manchester needs. Our ambition is to deliver a high-quality, sustainable data centre designed to meet rigorous environmental and safety standards. We are committed to being a responsible neighbour and will continue to engage with the community and the Council throughout the planning process and beyond."