Developers have been granted permission to redevelop a former HSBC data center outside the city of Liverpool, UK.
The bank left the site 51 Bridle Road in the Netherton area of Bootle, Sefton, around 10 years ago, and the property has reportedly been vacant since.
This week, Sefton Council granted L51 Developments permission to demolish one office building and develop a 36,000 sq ft light industrial unit, as well as redevelop 30,000 sq ft of refurbished office and refurbish the existing data center.
The existing two data centers on-site – a single-story building measuring 3,175 sqm (34,176 sq ft) and a two-story building measuring 4,265 sqm (45,908 sq ft) in total – will be joined by a new two-story 3,120 sqm (33,584 sq ft) structure.
The three buildings combined will provide a single ~11,150 sqm (~120,000 sq ft) facility. Information about any prospective tenants for the data center were not shared.
Construction is set to begin on the scheme early next year, with Mather & Co and Tim Groom Architects leading the design.
“Investment and development of this kind here in Sefton is absolutely critical to not just our borough, but to the whole of the Liverpool City Region’s digital infrastructure,” said Cllr Marion Atkinson, cabinet member for regeneration and skills. “As our ways of working are driven by technology more than ever before, it is vital that Sefton supports those who have the vision to create state-of-the-art facilities and working environments that provide the best opportunities for job creation and business growth.”
Sefton Council said its business growth team, InvestSefton, worked with L51 from their initial interest in the site, through funding options to bringing potential investors to the table.
“The support that the InvestSefton advisors have provided to the project to date has been immeasurable and we are really excited about the future of the site now that we can push forward with the project,” added Pa Nolan, Director of L51 Developments Limited.
L51 was founded in 2019 by Nolan and Dataplex CEO Eddie Kilbane. Based in Ireland, Dataplex develops wholesale data centers.
Though the council says it has been vacant for around 10 years, the site seemingly had a brief moment as a commercial data center. A company founded in 2011 named Abbey Data Centres acquired the HSBC data center in January 2012 to operate as a commercial facility known as The Vault. It's unclear if ‘The Vault’ was ever offered commercially or for how long if it ever was; in 2013, Abbey changed its name to Rajinder Data Limited, and the company was dissolved last year.
A company called Itsonnet Limited was also registered at the site until it was wound up in 2014. Benchmark Properties seemingly took over management of the site from 2015.
A Mr. Roland John Bernard Duce, who was previously a Director at Abbey Data Centres/Rajinder Data Limited, is also listed as a Director at L51, according to Companies House.
