Tender

Phase 1 - Silicon Sands Campus

BLACKPOOL COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

21 Nov 2025 at 16:28

Summary of the contracting process

Blackpool Council has initiated a public procurement process titled "Phase 1 - Silicon Sands Campus," aiming to develop a 6MVA exemplar data centre at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. This project, with a gross value of £300 million, falls under the "works" category and involves sectors such as district heating, information systems, and construction work for commercial buildings. The procurement is currently in the tender stage, with an expression of interest deadline set for 19th December 2025. The project is located in the UKD42 region, United Kingdom, and the procurement method employed is a selective, competitive flexible procedure. The contract term is expected to span three years from June 2026, following a series of multi-stage negotiations and evaluations.

This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in data centre management, construction, and integration of AI systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, enhancing their prospects of securing a long-term lease of 250 years. The emphasis on innovation, job creation, and sustainability makes this tender appealing to companies focusing on high-tech development, infrastructure, and heating services. Successfully securing this contract could lead to business expansion, increased market visibility, and contributing to the economic growth of Blackpool by fostering a competitive digital economy.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Phase 1 - Silicon Sands Campus

Notice Description

Blackpool Council is a unitary local authority providing public services to approximately 141,000 residents across 21 wards, making up the Borough of Blackpool. Blackpool Council is procuring a third-party concessionaire to: (i) invest, develop and operate a 6MVA exemplar data centre (together with ancillary office accommodation); and (ii) to connect the heat generated from the data centre to a proposed local heat network within the Silicon Sands site at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Blackpool Council believes that by enabling the development of new digital infrastructure, major economic and social benefits can accrue, bringing significant skilled employment and educational opportunities for the local population and encouraging inward investment and growth in high-tech companies, including start-ups operating in AI systems, making Blackpool competitive in the digital economy. Blackpool Council is procuring a concessions contract for the purposes of section 3(4) and section 8 of the Procurement Act 2023. The term of the concessions contract will be 3 years (from June 2026), and the land will be made available on a 250 yearlong lease.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e6a6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076182-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

45 - Construction work

48 - Software package and information systems

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

09323000 - District heating

45213100 - Construction work for commercial buildings

45232141 - Heating works

45331000 - Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installation work

48800000 - Information systems and servers

71314000 - Energy and related services

72510000 - Computer-related management services

72700000 - Computer network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
11 Dec 20256 days to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Jun 2026 - 14 Jun 2099 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BLACKPOOL COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
ftsprocurementnotices@blackpool.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BLACKPOOL
Postcode
FY1 1NB
Post Town
Blackpool
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD42 Blackpool
Delivery Location
TLD42 Blackpool

Local Authority
Blackpool
Electoral Ward
Talbot
Westminster Constituency
Blackpool South

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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