TO BE PUBLISHED September 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for data centres in the UK.
The agenda will consider evolving regulatory priorities and the implications of growing use of artificial intelligence for data centre demand. It will also explore approaches for managing accelerating development alongside national infrastructure and environmental sustainability priorities, as well as the UK’s net zero ambitions.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss recent policy and regulatory developments affecting data centres, including their designation as critical national infrastructure, inclusion within the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, progress in delivering AI Growth Zones, and proposals in the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill.
Areas for discussion include implications for planning, investment and operational requirements, including approaches to risk management, incident reporting and resilience, as well as the expanding role of Ofcom in oversight of digital infrastructure. Attendees will also assess wider implications for project delivery and the UK’s attractiveness as a location for digital and AI-related infrastructure, including considerations for economic growth, investment and investor confidence.
Environmental sustainability, resilience & net zero
Discussion will consider priorities for the relationship between environmental sustainability objectives, net zero ambitions, resilience requirements, and economic growth as demand for data centre capacity increases. We expect discussion to draw on responses to the Environmental Audit Committee’s ongoing inquiry into the Risks and Opportunities to the Sustainability of Data Centres in the UK.
Attendees will examine implications for electricity demand, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions, including cumulative environmental and local impacts, alongside emerging expectations around environmental reporting and operational transparency. Practical approaches for mitigating environmental impacts will also be discussed, including cooling technologies, heat reuse, and the circular economy.
Planning reform, local impacts & biodiversity net gain
Sessions will examine the role of the planning system in responding to increasing demand for data centre deployment, including implications of enabling schemes to opt into the NSIP regime and how decision-making responsibilities are balanced between national and local levels. Attendees will also consider how planning and consenting processes can address issues such as land use, noise, heat and pressure on local infrastructure. Effective approaches to supporting community engagement will explored, alongside the role of local authorities in managing local impacts, and the management of local effects.
Further discussion will examine application of BNG requirements within the NSIP regime following government guidance published in June, including practical considerations for meeting environmental obligations alongside delivery timelines and project costs.
Grid connections, electricity demand & system integration
Attendees will assess implications of growing demand for data centre capacity, including the impact of AI-related workloads on electricity consumption. Sessions will examine challenges relating to grid capacity, electricity system constraints, and network connections. Implications of recent reform intended to prioritise strategically important projects will be considered, drawing on insights from the AI Champion’s Interim AI Adoption Plan for Clean Energy. The relationship between data centre development and wider demands on infrastructure will also be discussed, including housing and economic development, together with the role of strategic planning in managing future electricity demand and supporting investment.
Discussion is also expected on reform of the grid connections process, including approaches to prioritisation and questions around allocating capacity between competing users and sectors, and wider electricity system governance arrangements.
Supply chains, infrastructure delivery & workforce capability
Delegates will examine supply chain readiness and infrastructure delivery challenges, including procurement lead times for cooling systems, switchgear, generators and high-capacity transformers.
Workforce capacity will also be considered, including skills requirements across electrical engineering, thermal management, controls and data centre operations. Discussion is expected to examine training pathways, opportunities for skills transfer from other sectors, and priorities for long-term workforce development.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Education; Department for the Economy, NI; Government Legal Department; HM Revenue and Customs; Office for Investment; Ofcom; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.
