What was once Europe's largest hot strip steel mill, Ravenscraig, is now poised for a transformative new chapter with plans unveiled to develop one of the UK's largest green AI data centres on the site.

This ambitious proposal, put forward by Edinburgh and York-based renewable energy developer Apatura, aims to attract billions of pounds of inward investment and create thousands of new jobs.

Apatura's vision involves developing a major data centre with battery energy storage across 160 acres of the iconic post-industrial site in central Scotland, less than 20km east of Glasgow. The facility will be powered by 550 megawatts of grid connections, projected to come online by 2030. Ravenscraig is one of five AI-ready sites Apatura is advancing across Scotland's central belt, backed by over 1.6GW of confirmed grid connections, positioning them as a key developer capable of delivering AI infrastructure at this scale in the UK.

The proposed Ravenscraig data centre is designed to harness Scotland's increasing supply of renewable energy, utilising constrained wind and solar generation that is often wasted. This approach would help alleviate grid congestion and potentially reduce consumer bills across the UK.

The Ravenscraig site, which saw its steelworks close in 1992, is already undergoing one of Europe's largest brownfield regeneration and community creation initiatives, with a masterplan focused on sustainable and inclusive growth for a mixed-use environment. This latest proposal for the site to the east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, known as SevenFourEight, symbolises a potent step in its regeneration. Strategically located with direct access to both the M74 and M8 motorways, SevenFourEight is a key industrial and business centre within Scotland's central belt.

Apatura is working in close collaboration with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposal. Last month, Ravenscraig was put forward by Apatura as a candidate in the UK Government's AI Growth Zone initiative, which is currently under consideration by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. This initiative seeks to identify prime sites across Britain in the global race for AI supremacy, and it is hoped Ravenscraig will be among the selected winners for accelerated UK Government support.

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The development is projected to be transformational for both the local area and the wider Scottish economy. The project is estimated to cost £3.9 billion to build. An independent socio-economic study has calculated that:

• The Ravenscraig data centre would contribute an additional 0.4% to Scotland's annual GDP once operational.

• Construction activity would deliver a one-off £1.2 billion GVA (gross value added) boost, supporting over 16,000 job years across Scotland.

• The ongoing annual GVA contribution is estimated at £729 million, supporting 2,399 long-term jobs (direct, indirect, and induced).

Additionally, developing high-demand data centres in Scotland's central belt could play a vital role in reducing grid constraint payments, which amounted to nearly £1 billion last year and are forecast to increase to £3 billion by 2030.

Apatura CEO Giles Hanglin commented on the bid: "This proposal plays strongly to Scotland's strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills – and would complement the country's significant capabilities in big data and research. We've secured the land and grid, and we're already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt. If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt."

Russell Wilkie, Director of Ravenscraig, added: "This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland's renewable power capabilities. With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK's AI infrastructure needs. This multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure, and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy."

Pamela Nash, MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, also voiced her support: "Ravenscraig stands ready for the next chapter, a world-class digital and AI hub powered by Scotland's renewable strength, creating thousands of local jobs during construction, driving billions in economic value, and transforming post-industrial land into the beating heart of a green, future-ready economy. This is the kind of joined up thinking and forward-looking delivery the UK needs. It's not just about building infrastructure, it's about rebuilding prosperity, restoring pride, and delivering a new era of sustainable industry. I look forward to seeing Ravenscraig lead the way."

Ravenscraig has historically received significant support from North Lanarkshire Council, including a new £74 million access road currently being delivered by the council. In addition to Ravenscraig, Apatura has developed a portfolio of four further grid-secured, AI-ready sites across Scotland's central belt, with total grid connections exceeding 1.6GW, aiming to position Scotland as a leader in the next industrial revolution.