Plan pitched for new era of UK computing
PLANS have been filed to build a supercomputing centre on the outskirts of Runcorn. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is seeking permission from Halton Borough Council to construct the single-storey research base on vacant grassland south of SciTech Daresbury and on the eastern banks of the Cheshire Ring section of Bridgewater Canal.
A planning statement lodged by agents Stride Treglown said the development would feature 3,070 sqm of floor space and enable the STFC to stay at the cutting-edge of supercomputing in the UK and to provide computing infrastructure to support the UK “into the middle of the century”.
The report revealed that if granted permission, the supercomputing centre would house a new high-performance computer to be procured and installed under a separate contract.
It added that the site is identified in Halton’s Local Plan as a “regional investment purpose” and “key area of change”.
Despite the loss of greenery, Stride Treglown said the project would be “developed with sensitivity to the wider context, including the largely rural landscape to the south”.
The building is intended to replace an ageing data centre inside Daresbury Laboratory.
The report said: “The new facility is intended to replace an existing supercomputing centre at Daresbury Laboratory, within the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus.
“The site is well-established and has continued to develop and expand as part of the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, meaning that the existing STFC Data
Centre (within the existing laboratory site) no longer meets current or future business needs.
Public consultation is open until August 26 with Halton Council aiming to decide the issue by about October 29.