Skelton Grange, Leeds
Microsoft
A hybrid scheme for data centre buildings on the former Skelton Grange power station site at Stourton, Leeds, brought forward by Harworth Group with Microsoft. Leeds City Council's planning committee resolved to grant permission in April 2026, but no decision notice has been issued, so the scheme is not yet consented.
Key facts
- Operator / developer
- Microsoft
- Location
- Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom
- Status
- Proposed
- Facility type
- Data centre
- AI relevance
- Not stated
Power & grid
- Power
- No MW, MVA or IT-load figure appears in the council reporting, the Harworth market announcement or any other source retrieved. None is recorded.
Planning
- Council
- Leeds City Council
- Planning route
- Local planning (TCPA)
- Planning reference
- 25/06139/FU
- Planning decision
- Resolution to grant, Leeds City Council planning committee, April 2026; decision notice not yet issued
- Land area
- 26.3 ha
- Recorded objections
- 993
Benefits vs drawbacks
Benefits
Timeline
Leeds City Council Plans Panel resolved to grant permission for the Microsoft data centre, delegated to the Chief Planning Officer subject to a S106 agreement and conditions.
SourceA 38 Degrees petition opposing the scheme passed 39,000 signatures; 993 formal objections reported.
SourcePetition against the scheme reported at more than 44,000 signatures, after about 250 people joined a Millennium Square protest organised by No Leeds Data Centre. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin backed the scheme on economic grounds; Green group leader Cllr Penny Stables warned it would mean burning more gas.
Source
Reality Score
Sources
- Harworth and Microsoft receive resolution to grant
Secondary source · Harworth Group plc (regulatory announcement) · 2026-04-27
- Go-ahead for Microsoft centre on former Leeds power station site
Secondary source · BBC News (secondary) · 2026-04-24
- Microsoft's plans to build data centre in Yorkshire spark environmental debate
Secondary source · Yorkshire Post (secondary) · 2026-09-30
- Residents outraged as planning is approved for new Microsoft datacentres
Secondary source · South Leeds Life (secondary)
- Fast-growing petition protesting proposed Microsoft AI datacentres in Leeds nears 40k signatures
Secondary source · Yorkshire Evening Post (secondary)
Last verified
2 October 2026
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