18 August 2016

ST2 CEO Anne Stokes said the tech sector isn’t “just a phenomenon for the South of England”.

ST2 has exchanged land in the former ICI site in Redcar as part of its £100m development of a new data centre. 

A planning application has been submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council which is expected to be reviewed over the next six months.

Pending its success, ST2's move is said to be a significant inward investment for the North East and will lead to the creation of around 400 jobs for the area.

Lincolnshire-based ST2 Group is a start-up focused on the design, build and operate of technology and environmentally advanced data and power operations in the UK.

“This is an important step forward in our ambition to develop an environmentally sustainable data centre and technology services business in the North East,” said CEO Anne Stokes. “Not only will this be an important source of quality jobs for the area, but demonstrates that the tech sector isn’t just a phenomenon for the South of England.”

The new data centre will be situated on the former ICI site near Wilton and powered by Sembcorp, ensuring a carbon neutral footprint. Sembcorp Utilities UK is part of Singapore-based energy, water and marine group Sembcorp Industries. Its UK subsidiary owns and operates major assets on Teesside, and works in partnership with customers to address their needs.

GDL, a North Yorkshire corporate finance and advisory company, is working with a London-based special opportunities fund to raise capital and financing for the project.

ST2’s planned development in Redcar is part of a 20-year investment that will create long-term skilled employment. 

Stokes said: “Data centres have become an essential part of the country’s critical economic infrastructure so we will also be supporting a wide range of businesses and encouraging them to either set up shop or grow their existing activities in the North East.”