AI data centres in the UK
15 sites in the directory are AI data centre projects or sit inside a government AI Growth Zone. 10 of them are not yet operating.
What makes an AI data centre different
AI models are trained and run on GPUs and other accelerator chips packed densely into racks. Those racks draw far more power and give off far more heat than ordinary servers, so AI sites need very large grid connections and, increasingly, liquid cooling piped close to the chips. The International Energy Agency says electricity use by AI-focused data centres grew by 50% in 2025.
That is why many of the UK's AI projects are outside the traditional west London and Slough cluster, on former power stations, steelworks and airfields where a large grid connection already exists or can be built. The government's AI Growth Zones prioritise grid connections and planning support for these sites.
In AI Growth Zones
- Under construction
- Planned
- Planned
- Under construction
- Planned
- Approved
- Approved
Other AI data centre projects
Sites outside the zones whose sources describe them as AI data centres or as hosting AI cloud.
- Planned
- Planned
- Status unconfirmed
- Approved
Size comparisons: the biggest UK data centres and how much power data centres use. Looking for work on these builds? See data centre jobs.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026. Send a correction.