DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DataCentres" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DataCentres</span></a> to be expanded across <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/UK" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UK</span></a> as concerns mount</p><p>by Zoe Kleinman & Krystina Shveda<br>8/14/2025</p><p>"Data centres, like this one <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Google" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Google</span></a> is building in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Hertfordshire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Hertfordshire</span></a>, are becoming a more familiar sight across the UK<br>The number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News. </p><p>"Data centres are giant warehouses full of powerful computers used to run digital services from movie streaming to online banking - there are currently an estimated 477 of them in the UK.<br> <br>"Construction researchers Barbour ABI have analysed planning documents and say that number is set to jump by almost 100, as the growth in artificial intelligence (<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AI</span></a>) increases the need for processing power. </p><p>"The majority are due to be built in the next five years.</p><p>"However, there are concerns about the huge amount of energy and water the new data centres will consume.</p><p>"Some experts have warned it could drive up prices paid by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/consumers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>consumers</span></a>.<br>More than half of the new data centres would be in London and neighbouring counties. </p><p>"Many are privately funded by US <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TechGiants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TechGiants</span></a> such as Google and Microsoft and major <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/investment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>investment</span></a> firms.</p><p>"A further nine are planned in Wales, one in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Scotland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Scotland</span></a>, five in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GreaterManchester" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GreaterManchester</span></a> and a handful in other parts of the UK, the data shows.</p><p>"While the new data centres are mostly due for completion by 2030, the biggest single one planned would come later - a £10-billion AI data centre in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Blyth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Blyth</span></a>, near <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Newcastle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Newcastle</span></a>, for the American private investment and wealth management company <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Blackstone" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Blackstone</span></a> Group. </p><p>"It would involve building 10 giant buildings covering 540,000 square meters - the size of several large shopping centres - on the site of a former <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BlythPowerStation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BlythPowerStation</span></a>. </p><p>"Works are set to begin in 2031 and last for more than three years. </p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Microsoft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Microsoft</span></a> is planning four new data centres in the UK at a total cost of £330 million, with an estimated completion between 2027 and 2029 - two in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Leeds" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Leeds</span></a> area, one near Newport in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wales" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Wales</span></a>, and a five-storey site in Acton, north west London.</p><p>"And Google is building two data centres, totalling £450m, spread over 400,000 sq m in north east London in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LeeValley" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LeeValley</span></a> water system."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr9nx0jrzo" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr9n</span><span class="invisible">x0jrzo</span></a></p><p>Archived version:<br><a href="https://archive.ph/GukDh" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">archive.ph/GukDh</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoNukesForAI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NoNukesForAI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElectricityUsage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElectricityUsage</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterUsage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterUsage</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TechBros" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TechBros</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Capitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BigTech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BigTech</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BigTechIsWatchingYou" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BigTechIsWatchingYou</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Datacenters" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Datacenters</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/chatbots" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>chatbots</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/InvestmentFirms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>InvestmentFirms</span></a></p>