New Chapter For Failed Britishvolt Site In Northumberland

The joint LPA receivers of the property assets of BritishVolt Properties Ltd, Bob Maxwell and Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor Group, are pleased to announce that they have entered into a contract for the sale of the site at Cambois, Blyth Northumberland, formerly known as Blyth Power Station, to a subsidiary of the US private equity firm Blackstone Group.

The negotiation for the sale of the site, that was more recently used as the base of the failed EV battery business BritishVolt, has been reached after a complex 15-month sale process for an undisclosed sum.

The transaction marks a new chapter for the 235-acre site, which will now be transformed by Blackstone into one of the largest data centre facilities in Western Europe.

The Cambois location offers excellent access to transportation networks by land, sea and air. Additionally, the site benefits from a robust power supply and skilled local workforce, making it highly attractive for data centre use.

The process involved extensive collaboration with Northumberland County Council to ensure the future use of the site aligned with regional development plans and the region’s employment strategy.

The secured lender over the property assets of BritishVolt Properties Ltd was a fund managed by the Katch Investment Group which appointed Begbies Traynor’s Bob Maxwell and Julian Pitts as LPA receivers in November 2022.

Katch Investment Group was advised in the transaction by Simon Etchells and Graham Reid of Gunnercooke Solicitors, and Philip Mudd of Clarion Solicitors provided legal advice to the LPA receivers in the transaction.

Bob Maxwell of Begbies Traynor Group, said:
“From a difficult situation, the future sale will ensure a very bright future for the site. The process of securing a dependable buyer who has a clear, deliverable plan for the long-term use of this strategically important land asset was crucial after the failure of the last business at the site, and was a key factor in gaining the approval of Northumberland County Council who held options on the site.

“This transaction ensures that a well-funded and respected new owner can bring the enterprise and employment to the site that it deserves, and will be a huge boost for the whole region. Its scale and location make it perfect as the location for a European data hub, and the plans put forward will hopefully kick-start an entire tech industry cluster in the North East from the site."