Former Unilever factory site set to be reborn as major Data Centre

THE 130-year-old former Unilever factory site at Bank Quay, once the heart of Warrington’s historic soap-making industry, is set to be transformed into a cutting-edge, next-generation data centre.

Warrington-Worldwide was yesterday given a first look, behind the scenes into the work which is now getting underway on the privately owned site.

The ambitious regeneration project is a joint effort by local development company Platform and The Dante Group, aiming to power the UK’s growing artificial intelligence (AI) economy and bring high-tech jobs to the town.
The site, which closed its production lines in October 2020 after 130 years of operation, has long been a familiar landmark near Bank Quay train station. Initial plans for the location focused on demolition, but the new vision represents a significant pivot towards the digital future, repurposing the industrial land for essential modern infrastructure.
Warrington South MP Sarah Hall recently mentioned the project in Parliament, calling on government ministers to support local innovation and homegrown firms driving the UK’s technological progress. She highlighted the development as a prime example of how local ambition can foster national renewal and create a stronger local economy.
Carl Oates, a director at The Dante Group involved in the Platform project, emphasised the site’s historical significance and the community’s connection to its manufacturing past. “The old Unilever site means a lot to our town. Generations of families remember working there and the pride that came with it. What we’re doing now is about bringing that place back to life, turning a vacant industrial land into something that powers the new economy”.
The project has been praised for its collaborative approach, with Oates noting that it took “real teamwork” from businesses and local leaders to ensure future opportunities were created in Warrington by local people. The development is expected to support the town’s role in the national digital infrastructure and boost the local job market with new skills and roles.
Fellow Dante Director Neil Rustage added: “Platform @Bank Quay is more than just a data centre. Our approach allows for bespoke infrastructure to support hyperscalers and research institutions as the UK accelerates its adoption of next-generation AI and high-performance computing technologies.”
The team also includes John Laverick, who helped deliver various projects in Warrington, during his time at Warrington & Co.
Welcoming the development, Warrington Borough Council’s Chief Executive Steve Park said: “It is fitting to see that a site that was once at the forefront of chemical engineering, is now once again being used in leading innovation in the modern economy. Research, development and investment is underway across Warrington and the common denominator is always the hunger for data analytics which this site will be able to provide and therefore is a key part of the growth of the local economy. It is especially pleasing to see the intention to utilise local supply chain networks where at all possible, to help strengthen this investment.”

The old Lever Brothers factory

The data centre will be a “next-generation modular” facility, a design increasingly favoured in the industry for its efficiency and scalability, capable of meeting the intensive demands of AI and cloud computing providers.
Demolition of the existing buildings will begin in the coming days and weeks but little will be visible. The project marks a symbolic shift from the traditional heavy industries like soap-making, wireworks, and breweries that shaped Warrington, to a new era of digital and technological leadership.
As the UK looks to bolster its digital infrastructure, the Warrington data centre development by The Dante Group and Platform is poised to become a key asset, transforming a cherished industrial legacy into a hub for the future digital economy.