Proposed Development
Site Location Plan
The site is on land south of Lymm Road, to the north of the M56 and west of the A556, WA14 4TP. The proposals would support the area’s long-term economic prosperity by delivering new digital infrastructure in a strategically located part of Cheshire, Warrington and Greater Manchester.
The proposed data centre will help meet the growing demand for digital capacity and connectivity, providing the infrastructure public services and businesses need to rely on secure, resilient, high-quality digital services. By strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure, the development can attract businesses seeking digital capacity and connectivity, reinforcing the North West region’s position as a leading location for business, innovation and investment in the UK.
The site also benefits from its proximity to major road infrastructure, providing strong connections to the wider North West region and the national road network, providing a well-connected base for businesses and organisations that depend on reliable digital infrastructure.
Innova have submitted the proposed development site into the Councils emerging Local Plan, including the call for sites consultation which took place in early 2026. Innova will continue to promote the site through this process and liaise with stakeholders.
The proposal seeks to deliver a campus-style data centre which will provide opportunities for multiple data centre operators to cluster within the site. The proposal will include:
· Data halls, containing the equipment and plant to facilitate storing of data
· Offices and ancillary security buildings.
· A district heating energy centre
· A ‘Living Lab’ educational space.
· A solar array, rooftop solar panels and solar canopies above sections are the proposed car parking areas.
· Significant areas of green infrastructure and landscape planting on-site.
The site will utilise the existing access off Lymm Road and Chester Road for the main site entrance. We require a secondary access entrance which is proposed further west along Lymm Road, this will be only be used for essential circumstances. The solar farm is proposed to be accessible during its construction and decommissioning via a temporary track within the main site..
The project team is currently undertaking site specific surveys which will influence the site’s design and inform the assessment work which will support the planning application. The details of this will be presented at the second consultation event.
Power, Cooling and Sustainability
The proposed data centre will connect directly to the local electricity grid, providing the power supply to support the campus and the digital services it will host. It will also support an on-site heat recovery centre, electricity substations and backup power generation, ensuring a stable baseload of powr in the event of any supply interruption. Opportunities to improve overall energy efficiency and sustainability are also being explored.
The proposed data centre will use a hybrid air and closed-loop water-cooled system to efficiently manage heat generated by the data centre, keeping water consumption to a minimum. The cooling technologies will be designed to comply with relevant UK regulations and reflect sustainable best practice.The project team is actively assessing opportunities to reuse heat generated by the data centre to heat nearby businesses, reducing energy costs and supporting the area's economic viability.
A solar array is proposed on land west of Coe Lane, which will facilitate the equivalent energy to power the district heating energy centre, offices and the living lab. We are also proposing rooftop solar and solar canopies above areas of the car parks to facilitate on-site electric vehicle charging for staff and visitors to the site.
Timeline
30th September 2026 - 4 pm - 8 pm
The first Public consultation event at High Legh Village Hall, West Lane, Knutsford, WA16 6LR.
2026/2027
Planning Application submission to Cheshire East Council and the Council’s public consultation process
Winter 2026
Post-consultation in-person information event
Summer 2026
Pre-application engagement with Cheshire East Council planning officers
September - October 2026
Innova’s public consultation period
Indicative Red Line Boundary