TO BE PUBLISHED September 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for data centres in the UK. Areas for discussion include policy and regulatory development, environmental sustainability and resilience, planning and infrastructure delivery, capacity and investment requirements, as well as priorities for grid connections, supply chains and workforce capability.
The agenda will consider evolving regulatory priorities and implications of growing use of AI for data centre demand. It will assess approaches to supporting the development of additional capacity alongside national infrastructure, environmental sustainability and 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.
Delegates will consider implications for planning, investment and operational requirements, including risk management, incident reporting and resilience, as well as Ofcom’s proposed oversight role. With Ofgem currently consulting on proposed financial requirements and data centre progression milestones, the conference will also assess implications for project delivery and the UK’s attractiveness as a location for digital and AI-related infrastructure.
Environmental sustainability, resilience & economic growth
Discussion will examine the relationship between environmental sustainability objectives, net zero ambitions, resilience requirements and economic growth as demand for data centre capacity increases, and approaches to resolving possible tensions.
It will draw on evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the Risks and Opportunities to the Sustainability of Data Centres in the UK, as well as the Local Government Association’s response, which highlighted both the regional economic potential of data centre investment and the need for closer national and local coordination on energy, water, land and wider infrastructure requirements.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- energy demand: implications for electricity consumption and emissions - energy efficiency - coordination with renewable generation and network investment
- water resources: availability and supply capacity in areas of projected development - cooling requirements - location-specific pressures and mitigations
- environmental practice: cooling technologies, heat reuse and circular-economy approaches - carbon and water measurement - reporting and transparency
- system benefits: potential for flexible demand and heat networks - contribution to infrastructure investment - assessment of environmental and economic effects
- local delivery: coordination between national policy and place-based infrastructure - implications for employment, innovation and public-service provision
Planning reform, local impacts & Biodiversity Net Gain
Sessions will examine the role of the planning system in responding to increasing demand for data centre development, including the implications of enabling schemes to opt in to the NSIP regime. Discussion will consider how national priorities can be coordinated with local decision-making, infrastructure capacity and environmental requirements.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- decision-making: division of national and local responsibilities - strategic importance and local accountability - coordination across planning and infrastructure bodies
- local impacts: land use, noise, heat, water and energy requirements - pressure on local infrastructure - assessment and management of cumulative effects
- community engagement: early consultation and communication - role of local authorities - approaches to addressing concerns and maintaining public confidence
- local benefits: employment, skills and business investment - supply chain opportunities - heat reuse and wider infrastructure improvements for host areas
- biodiversity: application of BNG requirements within the NSIP regime - scheme design and evidence - implications for land, delivery timescales and costs
Capacity requirements, investment & strategic resilience
Delegates will consider the scale and type of additional data centre capacity likely to be required as demand for AI, cloud services and other digital infrastructure develops. Discussion will assess how future development can meet the requirements of businesses, researchers, public services and other users, alongside wider questions relating to investment, ownership and national resilience.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- capacity needs: pace, location and composition of development - requirements for AI, cloud, research and public-sector workloads
- user requirements: security, latency and reliability - access to specialist computing infrastructure - alignment of development with service needs
- strategic resilience: domestic capacity for sensitive data and workloads - management of critical dependencies - continuity of essential services
- investment: role of domestic and overseas capital - ownership and control of strategically important infrastructure - investor confidence and project viability
Grid connections, electricity demand & system integration
Attendees will also assess the implications of growing demand for data centre capacity, including the impact of AI-related workloads on electricity consumption. Sessions will examine grid capacity, electricity-system constraints and network connections, together with coordination between data centre development and wider infrastructure requirements.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- grid capacity: future electricity requirements - network constraints and connection timescales - coordination of generation and network investment
- strategic planning: identifying suitable locations - aligning data centre and energy infrastructure - implications for housing, industry and other major users
- connection reform: removing speculative projects from the queue - demonstrating readiness and viability - prioritisation of strategically important development
- connection charges: options for deposits or commitment fees - implications for project finance and competition - investor confidence and timely network access
- system integration: co-located generation and storage - potential for flexible demand - technical, commercial and operational requirements
Cybersecurity, operational resilience & regulation
Implications of bringing qualifying data centres within the Network and Information Systems framework and Ofcom’s proposed regulatory role will be discussed, considering the practical application of security and resilience requirements, incident reporting and coordination between operators and public authorities.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- security duties: proportionate application of security and resilience requirements - compliance arrangements - implications for different operators and facilities
- incident reporting: notification thresholds and timescales - information required from operators - communication with customers and authorities
- operational resilience: continuity and recovery planning - preparedness for disruption - testing and assurance arrangements
- regulatory coordination: Ofcom’s proposed responsibilities - relationship with the NCSC and other authorities - regulatory capacity and technical expertise
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, together with opportunities for UK suppliers and regional economies to participate in future development.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- equipment supply: procurement lead times and international dependencies - specialist computing hardware - management of cost and timetable risks
- delivery planning: visibility of the project pipeline - coordination of procurement and infrastructure programmes - readiness across supporting sectors
- workforce needs: electrical and civil engineering, thermal management and controls - cybersecurity, facility design and operations - training and apprenticeship pathways
- UK capability: opportunities in design, engineering, energy integration and maintenance - support for specialist suppliers - regional and local economic value
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 Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Education; Department for Communities, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Government Legal Department; HM Revenue and Customs; Health and Safety Executive; Office for Investment; National Wealth Fund; Ofcom; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.
