Stena Line unveil major plans for Anglesey site which could create up to 2,000 jobs

A major data centre campus is part of £1bn plans to redevelop a former aluminium works on Anglesey. Smelting came to an end at the Anglesey Aluminium site in 2009 - with Orthios later taking it on and developing a materials recycling facility.

But the business collapsed in 2022 with up to 100 staff losing their jobs. Later that year ferry operator Stena Line - which has owned and operated Holyhead port for nearly 30 years - bought the 213 acre site.

They said the new site - named Prosperity Parc - has the potential to provide additional land and services to existing customers and attract new long-term uses and investment to Holyhead.

Now a major scheme has been revealed in a development that could eventually create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs - as well as around 900 roles in the construction phase.

This would include a potential huge data centre campus in a development space of up to 238,000sqm. The proposals also include up to 10,000 sqm of office space, and up to 5,000 sqm research and development space. There would also be Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a target capacity of up to 349MW.

The application is from Stena subsidiary Anglesey Land Holdings. A pre-application consultation has been launched.

Ian Hampton, executive director at Stena Line, said: “We are really excited to share these proposals with the community. Our plans will see jobs, training and the next generation of technology come to Anglesey. By investing further in the Cae Glas land and the former 2Sisters site, we have shown how much we believe in Anglesey and how committed we are to delivering the vision of the Freeport.

We believe our plans will protect and enhance the heritage of Anglesey, the Welsh language and the culture that we have been proud to be a part of for over 30 years.

“As we open our consultation on our plans, I would encourage everyone to take part, give us your feedback and help us shape the future of Prosperity Parc.”

Agent Oxalis Planning said: "The site benefits from access to very large amounts of grid power, as well as good access to strategic telecommunications links to Ireland, the wider UK, and beyond. Coupled with Anglesey's potential to support a range of new energy generation sources, this makes the site particularly well suited to data centres."

On operational jobs, they said it was "estimated to be at least 1,151, but potentially up to 2,073 depending on end-user and occupier final requirements." They added: "The data centre proposals will include a range of jobs across a variety of technical and skill levels involved in operating and supporting the day to day operations of the data centre campus."

The application is made in outline with details included about how the existing two access points from London Road (A5) will be utilised. Details in relation to the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping will be provided through reserved matters applications submitted to the Local Planning Authority in due course.

It would see existing structures removed from the site - where the famous chimney was demolished earlier this year.

In conclusion, the agent said: "The proposals to redevelop Prosperity Parc for a data centre, research and development and office space, will help deliver significant levels of jobs and investment in the site which will drive growth and bring wider socio-economic benefits to Anglesey and North Wales.

"This would include a £1 billion construction cost, 1,151 to 2,073 operational jobs at a range of skill levels, and approximately between £109 million to £274 million of additional GVA per annum for Anglesey, as well as training and up-skilling opportunities and benefits for the local area.