We have glibly talked about the huge amount of energy consumed by data centres and whether the UK National Grid will be able to cope.

But do we know what we are talking about?

This is a photograph of an Amazon data centre in Morrow County, Oregon, USA.

Data centres need water to cool the servers, most of which need to be kept at 70 to 80 degrees to run effectively. The volume of water required is not the problem; The used water ejected from the data centres can end up, via water courses, polluting the fields used for growing food, which has been found to be contaminated.

Here is a map of planned data centres in the UK.

What the map shows (and what is worth noting)

These are particularly AI-ready ones backed by the government’s push and private investment.

The map shows a spread across the UK, including major clusters near London, in the North East, North West, and other parts.

• The bulk of new data-centre proposals are concentrated around London and the South East, but there are also major planned sites across northern England, Wales and Scotland (reflecting a push beyond just the capital region). Data Centre Magazine+2Blackridge Research+2
• Some of the largest upcoming developments include:
  • Elsham Tech Park (North Lincolnshire) — a massive planned data-centre campus. Blackridge Research
  • Cambois Data Center (Northumberland), near Blyth — a 720 MW facility under planning. Blackridge Research+1
  • East Havering Data Centre Campus (London Borough of Havering) — a large new centre in or near the London green belt. Barbour ABI+2Blackridge Research+2
  • Humber Tech Park (near the Humber Estuary / North Lincolnshire) — another significant planned campus. Blackridge Research+1
• According to recent analysis, more than half of the proposed new data-centre facilities will be in London and its surrounding counties, though a substantial number are dispersed across the UK — including Wales, Scotland, Manchester, and other locations. Data Centre Magazine+1
• The map also reflects a shift in policy and regulation: the government is now formally designating data centres as eligible for “infrastructure-scale” consenting under the revised rules for “nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs)”. This means major new facilities will have an easier path through planning, which is likely to accelerate build-out across many of these mapped sites. Pinsent Masons+1

⚠️ What the map doesn’t guarantee

• The map shows proposed or planned data-centre sites — not all will necessarily be built. Some may stall, be altered, or cancelled depending on planning outcomes, grid/water supply issues, or local opposition.
• Timing is uncertain — while many sites appear on the map now, actual construction and operation may be several years away.
• Impact on local infrastructure (power grid, water supply, transport) is real. The government recognises this and has introduced support mechanisms (including incentives for locating data centres where grid capacity for renewables is stronger) through initiatives like AI Growth Zones (AIGZ).