From the very first railway station to the cotton mills that powered the industrial revolution, Manchester has long been a powerhouse of Northern innovation. The computer you’re reading this on even uses technology from the ‘Manchester Baby’, the world’s first stored-program computer, invented in the city in 1948.

While compute has developed way beyond those early innovations, Manchester is still a crucial location for the AI age. Read on to find out how Manchester could fit your colocation strategy, and discover how data centres built within communities can help the city progress towards a green, digital future.

Why Manchester is a leading hub for UK data centres

Londoners, listen up: digital innovation in the UK extends way beyond the capital. Manchester’s broadband connectivity is exceptional, offering transatlantic and European routes. It’s home to Salford’s media city and a new generation of AI-oriented businesses. As Deep Green’s Chief Sustainability Officer Matt Bagwell explains, “There is a development and economic migration from the 'saturated south' where power, space, and opportunity are limited. The north can compete, not only with London, but internationally.” When it comes to colocation, this means that “there will be AI growth zones across the north, with data centres as critical infrastructure.”

How Manchester data centres can drive the city’s net-zero transition

Becoming an AI-growth zone means new investment and economic opportunity for Manchester, as well as more jobs for its citizens. But what about the impact on climate and community? 

Manchester aims to reach net-zero by 2038. Manchester data centres have an opportunity to help the city reach this goal. Beyond using renewable energy, donating heat to district heating systems is a way for colocation solutions to reduce emissions and positively impact local communities.

Local vs global colocation: which is best for your enterprise?

With data centres powering worldwide businesses, why does the location of your enterprise’s compute even matter? While global connectivity means you could technically choose a host on the other side of the world, there are benefits to keeping your compute close to home. Deep Green’s Alastair Clegg points out that it’s crucial for enterprises to physically access their servers, and recommends “staying within a relative geographical location from your staff or head office”. Meanwhile, keeping your critical data in the UK sidesteps any data sovereignty issues. For enterprises building out their Manchester hubs, opting for Manchester colocation is a no-brainer.

To understand how our Manchester data centre could work for your enterprise, check out our ultimate guide to choosing the perfect colocation solution.

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Inside Deep Green’s new Manchester data centre

Deep Green’s latest colocation data centre at move Urmston Leisure Centre in Manchester will go live in the spring of 2026. The 150 square-metre data centre offers 400kw of capacity, but it’s more than just a home for compute. The heat released by the servers will heat the leisure centre swimming pool. Then, cooled temperatures will be fed back into the data centre to cool its servers.

For move Urmston Leisure Centre, this means saving a massive £80,000 per year on heating bills. These savings can go towards training new swimming teachers, modernising facilities, providing swimming lessons for kids, creating accessible spaces, and providing staff with mental health training. Reusing heat also cuts 100-150 tons of CO2 from their operations, equivalent to removing 30 cars from the road.

Beyond emissions reduction, supporting leisure centres with free heat has a social impact. Jo Cherret, CEO of Trafford Leisure, shares the health benefits of living near a thriving leisure centre, which can extend life expectancy by 16 years. But, in part due to soaring heating costs, swimming pools are under threat; in the last 15 years, the UK has lost 76% of its accessible water spaces. Helping leisure centres stay afloat is a valuable use for compute heat, in a scheme Jo describes as “sustainability meets social impact”. For Deep Green, collaborating with move Urmston Leisure Centre means embedding digital infrastructure in the heart of Manchester’s community.

Deep Green colocation benefits the planet and your bottom line

Hosting your compute in our Manchester data centre offers tangible benefits for UK enterprises. Donating heat to move Urmston Leisure Centre means we receive cooled temperatures in return. This reduces our cooling requirements, resulting in industry-leading efficiency at a PUE of 1.03-1.17. This reduces our colocation costs, allowing our compute clients to pay 10-38% less for colocation compared to other UK data centres.

For CSOs looking to reduce emissions with HPC colocation, choosing a data centre that donates heat can boost sustainability performance. Firstly, the heating emissions that the leisure centre avoids can be counted in your enterprise’s scope 4 reporting. What’s more, supporting the local community with free heat from your compute use provides a valuable ESG narrative.

H2: Power Manchester’s green, digital future

As Manchester continues to establish itself as a leading AI hub, choosing Manchester colocation makes sense for forward-thinking enterprises. Through our collaboration with move Urmston Leisure Centre, our compute clients also have an opportunity to connect with communities and help Manchester work towards its net zero goals. Interested in hearing about capacity in our Manchester data centre?