Four prominent US technology firms announce a £6.3bn investment in UK data infrastructure.
- CyrusOne, ServiceNow, Cloud HQ, and CoreWeave to develop significant data facilities in the UK.
- This move aligns with the British government’s focus on technology as a key industrial strategy.
- The investment aims to enhance AI development and support in the UK market.
- UK government recognises data centres as critical national infrastructure to attract investments.
Four leading US technology firms, including CyrusOne, ServiceNow, Cloud HQ, and CoreWeave, have collectively announced a significant £6.3 billion investment in the UK. This strategic decision comes as the UK government prioritises technology within its industrial strategy, highlighted during a recent investment summit hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
CyrusOne, a prominent data centre developer, plans to inject £2.5 billion into the UK with expectations of operational facilities by the end of 2028, contingent on planning permissions. Similarly, Cloud HQ is poised to establish a £1.9 billion data centre campus in Didcot, Oxfordshire, envisioning the creation of 1,500 construction jobs and 100 permanent roles subsequently.
ServiceNow, recognised globally for its AI platforms and software, intends to invest £1.15 billion aimed at boosting AI advancements within the UK market. This includes expanding its data centres with enhanced Nvidia GPUs to facilitate local data processing capabilities. Meanwhile, AI hyperscaler CoreWeave is committing £750 million towards enhancing its next-generation AI cloud infrastructure.
This investment influx follows previous commitments by tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, raising the total investment in UK data centres to over £25 billion since the Labour government assumed office in July. Such developments underscore the confidence of international technology leaders in the UK, as stated by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who emphasised Britain’s stable and thriving market conditions for data centres and AI development.
The UK’s ongoing initiatives, including the recent proposal designating data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure’, reflect a robust strategy to entice further investment in its cloud infrastructure sector. This designation aligns data centres with essential services such as water and energy, thereby reinforcing governmental support in addressing critical incidents. Moreover, discussions surrounding potential data centre projects in London’s commuter belt, which faced local planning hurdles, indicate the government’s readiness to promote public infrastructure advancements for economic growth.
The substantial investment by US tech firms highlights the UK’s growing significance as a hub for data and AI development.
