Worried about data centres near you? The UK map shows most facilities are in London, but things are changing fast
Reports on the state of data centres in the UK show that the majority are within the M25, but as more are built, locations outside of London are increasingly being developed.
A recent report reveals that 40% of Britain's data centers are located in London. The UK boasts a total of 555 operational data centers, placing it second globally, just behind the USA's 4,423 facilities. While London currently houses 219 data centers with five more slated for expansion, the South East and North West regions have the second and third largest number of data centers, respectively.
The UK's data center industry is thriving, fueled by the demand for AI and cloud processing. However, energy costs could potentially hinder further development. Recent opposition to data centers in the US hasn't had the same impact in the UK, but concerns about water usage, noise, large structures, and electricity bills are growing.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's native North West boasts 39 data centers, with five already approved for completion. Scotland also leads with 49 operational data centers. Despite this, rural areas in the South West and North East are lagging behind in data center development, possibly due to slower approval processes or fewer applications.
Challenges faced by developers and operators may lead to a slowdown, potentially appeasing anti-data center protesters. For instance, an OpenAI data center planned for Cobalt Park in North Tyneside was shelved in 2025 due to rising energy costs, despite being designated as an AI growth zone.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
