Inquiry One: Unlocking the UK’s data centre potential
The Data Centres APPG is examining the conditions required for the UK to attract, enable and sustain world-class data centre investment, and whether today’s policy and regulatory environment is fit for future growth.
About the Inquiry
The Data Centres APPG is conducting an inquiry into the conditions required for the UK to attract, enable and sustain world-class data centre investment. As demand for AI, cloud computing and digital services accelerates, data centres have become critical national infrastructure.
This inquiry will assess whether the UK’s current policy and regulatory environment is sufficient to support future place-based growth, and what changes may be needed to strengthen international competitiveness.
Themes
The Call for Evidence questions and the evidence sessions are both organised under these themes. You may respond to any or all of them.
Energy infrastructure and international competitiveness
Investment, planning and regional growth
Innovation and sustainability
Skills, workforce and policy interventions
How to Respond
Please submit your evidence as a Word document only, using the structure set out in the Call for Evidence, via email.
Start by downloading the Call for Evidence — it sets out the full list of questions, organised by theme, that your submission should respond to.
You may answer all questions or only those relevant to your expertise. Please keep responses concise (max 5 pages, excluding annexes), evidence-based, and clearly attributed.
You must include your name, organisation, and contact information, along with the marker and question you are responding to.
Please respond under the themes above — you may answer any or all of them.
APPG Data Centres Inquiry – [Your Organisation Name]Reference the marker + question, e.g.
B2 — What role can local authorities, combined authorities and devolved administrations play in supporting data centre investment and regional growth?Evidence Sessions
Three sessions will hear oral evidence from witnesses across the sector, chaired by APPG members.
Energy infrastructure and international competitiveness
This session will examine the relationship between energy infrastructure and data centre investment, including grid access, electricity pricing, energy market design and the UK’s competitiveness relative to international markets.
Investment, planning and regional growth
This session will examine how planning policy, local authority decision-making and community engagement can support sustainable growth in data centre development across the UK.
Innovation and sustainability
This session will explore how the sector can support innovation, research capability and AI development while meeting sustainability objectives and minimising environmental impacts.
Take part in this inquiry
The Group welcomes evidence from operators, utilities, investors, local authorities and academia. Written submissions and expressions of interest in giving oral evidence are both welcome.