UK government does not know what datacentres are being used for, FoI request shows
The UK government has admitted it does not know what the country's largest datacentres are actually being used for, according to a freedom of information request, fuelling concerns about transparency as the AI-driven construction boom continues. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (since dissolved) said it did not hold the requested information, prompting criticism from campaigners and the Green party that ministers are approving major infrastructure without understanding its purpose or beneficiaries, even as new rules allow qualifying datacentres to bypass local planning committees.
Hundreds of datacentres are awaiting planning permission, with 315 queuing to connect to the National Grid, while two planned sites are expected to produce higher carbon emissions than ExxonMobil in the UK. Campaigners, including Global Action Plan and Friends of the Earth, warn that the sites' designation as critical national infrastructure since 2024 could see their high water and energy demands prioritised over households during droughts, and are calling for a moratorium and stricter environmental safeguards, including a requirement for 100% additional renewable energy for new projects. The government declined to comment on the transparency failure but defended continued expansion, arguing a pause would drive investment and jobs abroad and leave Britain reliant on foreign processing of sensitive data.
In short
- Government can't say what UK's biggest datacentres are used for
- 315 sites queuing for grid connection amid environmental concerns
- Campaigners demand moratorium and clearer environmental rules
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of continued datacentre expansion argue that these facilities underpin digital services, AI development and the secure processing of sensitive data, while attracting investment and creating jobs. A moratorium could push projects and their economic benefits abroad, leaving the UK more reliant on infrastructure elsewhere; the information gap may be a reason to improve oversight rather than halt development.
The case against
Critics argue that approving major facilities without knowing their purpose or beneficiaries weakens public accountability, especially when special planning status can limit local scrutiny. Given concerns about high energy and water use and projected emissions, they say expansion should pause until stronger transparency and environmental safeguards are in place, so infrastructure does not take priority over households or climate commitments.
Explained simply
Datacentres are large buildings full of computer servers that store and process information for online services, businesses and artificial intelligence. Their operators include technology companies and other organisations, but a site’s intended use and customers may not be clear from its size or location.
Building and running datacentres requires land, electricity and water for cooling. In the UK, local councils handle planning decisions, while national rules can affect how major infrastructure is assessed; the government also weighs investment and jobs against environmental and community concerns.
The debate is about how to expand computing capacity while making its costs and purposes clear. It matters because datacentres can affect local land and resources, and because decisions about their power and water needs may have wider consequences.
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