PLANS have been submitted to transform the former Unilever industrial site next to Warrington Bank Quay railway station into a new artificial intelligence data centre campus, bringing the prospect of fresh investment, 20-30 skilled jobs and a new future for a landmark brownfield site.
As well as generating employment at the old factory site, production work involving bespoke units, will also take place at Appleton Thorn, keeping the development as local as possible.
Platform DC has submitted a planning application to Warrington Borough Council for the proposed development, which would repurpose land with a long association with the town’s manufacturing heritage for the rapidly expanding digital economy.
The former Unilever facility ceased production in 2020, leaving an opportunity to bring the previously developed industrial brownfield site back into productive use.
The proposed campus would support artificial intelligence computing, high-performance computing, cloud services, digital infrastructure and business data processing – technologies increasingly relied upon by businesses, research organisations and public services.
Platform DC CEO Neil Rustage said: “The proposed Warrington Bank Quay development represents an exciting opportunity to bring a former industrial landmark back into productive use, building on Warrington’s proud manufacturing heritage while creating a new role for the site in the digital economy.
“As demand for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure continues to grow, we believe Warrington is well placed to benefit from this investment, with the potential to create skilled jobs, support local businesses and develop training opportunities for local people.
“We also recognise the importance of ensuring that the benefits of development are felt within the surrounding community. Through our proposed social value programme, we want to work with local residents, community organisations, schools and businesses to identify opportunities for meaningful, long-term investment.
Demolition works taking place on site
If approved, the development is expected to create between 20 and 30 permanent operational jobs, alongside up to 120 construction and manufacturing roles during its delivery.
Platform DC says it intends to work with local colleges, education providers and employment support organisations to maximise opportunities for local recruitment, apprenticeships, work placements and training.
The company hopes the project will help reinforce Warrington’s position as a centre for advanced industry and technology while attracting significant private sector investment.
The site has a manufacturing history stretching back more than a century, with its industrial legacy including Joseph Crosfield & Sons, a major soap and chemical manufacturer, before later operating under Unilever ownership.
Platform DC believes the proposed development offers an opportunity to build on that heritage by bringing the site into a new phase of economic activity.
The company also intends to develop local supply-chain opportunities, seeking businesses across construction, manufacturing, maintenance, logistics and professional services to support the project.
Eligible local small and medium-sized businesses could also benefit from favourable payment terms, subject to agreed arrangements.
Alongside the development, Platform DC is establishing a proposed Platform Social Value Fund, intended to provide annual community investment focused on neighbourhoods around its operations.
Potential projects include improvements to playgrounds, libraries, community hubs, grassroots sports facilities and green spaces, as well as initiatives to improve digital inclusion.
The company says local residents, schools, charities, community groups and local authorities will be invited to help shape investment priorities.
It also plans to publish annual updates covering community funding, local supplier spending, employment and training opportunities, and the projects supported.
The development would be privately funded, with Platform DC stating its intention to cover the cost of regenerating its site without passing the cost of redeveloping the land to local taxpayers.
Environmental considerations, including energy provision, cooling, water demand, air quality, noise, lighting and construction traffic, will form part of the development’s assessment.
The company’s draft proposals describe a cooling system using recirculated coolant in a closed loop, while the proposed energy arrangements would combine grid electricity with fuel-cell technology. The environmental implications will need to be assessed as part of the planning process. It will use existing power on site which was used by the fortmer Unilever factory.
The application will now be considered by Warrington Borough Council under the statutory planning process, which will include an opportunity for members of the public to submit comments.
If approved, the scheme could mark a significant change of use for one of Warrington’s former industrial sites, replacing its historic manufacturing role with infrastructure designed to support the next generation of digital technology.
For more information visit https://www.platformdc.io/
The former Unilever site
