Data centres to be expanded across UK as concerns mount
Posted: 11th May 2026
The number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News.
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.
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 (AI) increases the need for processing power.
The majority are due to be built in the next five years. However, there are concerns about the huge amount of energy and water the new data centres will consume.
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