The first phase of a £10bn ($13bn) data center project in Northumberland, England, received approval last week.

On December 2, the Northumberland County Council gave the green light for the construction of two out of a possible ten data center buildings at the 720MW QTS campus in Cambois.

Enabling works for the campus had already begun in October.

The 540,000 sqm (5,800,000 sq ft) campus will be built at the former Blyth Power Station. Up until last year, the site was meant to house a factory for Britishvolt, but the battery company’s bankruptcy proceedings led it to cancel its plans.

Two “freedom parks,” which are described as a “typical public park in America to honour themes of liberty of local history,” will also be constructed as part of the project.

The QTS campus will also benefit from the AI Growth Zone status granted to the area around Blyth and Cobalt Park in September of this year, giving QTS access to faster power and speedier planning.

Blackstone-owned QTS is based in the US. It is currently in the process of broadening its European footprint: other than its Northumberland project, the company has plans for a 100-hectare data center in Finland and as well as operating facilities in the Netherlands and Spain.