Ans group limited: MaNOC 6/7 Data Center

The MaNOC 6/7 Data Center, located at 8 Blackmore Road, Cobra Court, Stretford, Trafford Park, Manchester, UK, is operated by ANS Group (following the merger with UKFast in 2022).

This site is part of the MaNOC data center complex (which also includes MaNOC 5) and is situated in Manchester’s digital and industrial corridor, with convenient access to the M60 motorway and close proximity to the city’s carrier hubs. 

As a managed services and colocation provider, ANS uses MaNOC 6/7 to host its infrastructure and to offer colocation to third parties, leveraging Manchester’s growing role as a regional digital node.

⚙️ Facility Highlights

• Power capacity: 3.5 MVA gross, supporting 2 MW of net customer IT load across the MaNOC 5, 6 & 7 complex 
• Redundancy: N+1 UPS and multiple generators (supporting continuity in mains outage) I
• Cooling: Direct-expansion (DX) CRAC units in N+1 configuration, with VESDA (very early smoke detection apparatus) and gas suppression systems for fire control 
• Building footprint / halls: The combined MaNOC 5/6/7 complex provides ~22,000 sq ft of gross facility and ~14,000 sq ft net colocation space, supporting ~650 racks 
• Rack and cabinet options: 47U, 600×1000 mm standard rack footprint with private lockable quarter, half, full racks, as well as bespoke cages and suites.
• Cabling: 450 mm underfloor power cabling and overhead network cabling (above-rack) 
• Sustainability / energy: ANS claims 100 % carbon neutral data center operations, passing energy efficiencies onto customers 

🔐 Security & Compliance

• Certifications: ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and UK Government IL4 capability (secure IL4) 
• Physical security:
• • Razor-wire perimeter fencing, secure pedestrian and vehicle gates with trap systems 
• • 2.8 m high security perimeters, internal/external CCTV, and SIA-accredited security patrols
• • 24/7 staffed data center engineers and security guards 
• Access controls: Proximity cards, mantraps, biometric authentication, and multi-factor identification systems 
• Fire detection & suppression: VESDA early-warning smoke detection, inert-gas / gas suppression systems in critical spaces 

🌐 Connectivity & Carrier Access

• Carrier-neutral operation: Clients can choose among multiple ISPs, transit providers, and network operators. 
• Exchanges & peering: On-site connectivity to LINX Manchester, IX Manchester, and interconnection to other major UK/European exchanges. 
• In-building networks: Cogent and euNetworks are present in the facility and offer services directly inside the data center. 
• Diverse fiber path entry: Multiple fiber entry routes into the complex ensure path redundancy and avoid single points of failure. 
• Cross-connects, point-to-point, Ethernet, and dark fiber options are available. 

💼 Who It Serves

• Enterprises, managed services providers (MSPs), and cloud operators seeking colocation infrastructure in Greater Manchester
• Digital and media businesses needing low-latency connectivity and peering options in the UK
• Financial, e-commerce, and regulated industries needing secure, compliant infrastructure with IL-grade capability
• Organizations expanding across UK & Europe who benefit from redundancy, DCI, and distributed deployments
• Customers wanting carbon-neutral data center operations and full transparency in energy use