#DataCentres to be expanded across #UK as concerns mount

by Zoe Kleinman & Krystina Shveda
8/14/2025

"Data centres, like this one #Google is building in #Hertfordshire, are becoming a more familiar sight across the UK
The number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News.

"Data centres are giant warehouses full of powerful computers used to run digital services from movie streaming to online banking - there are currently an estimated 477 of them in the UK.

"Construction researchers Barbour ABI have analysed planning documents and say that number is set to jump by almost 100, as the growth in artificial intelligence (#AI) increases the need for processing power.

"The majority are due to be built in the next five years.

"However, there are concerns about the huge amount of energy and water the new data centres will consume.

"Some experts have warned it could drive up prices paid by #consumers.
More than half of the new data centres would be in London and neighbouring counties.

"Many are privately funded by US #TechGiants such as Google and Microsoft and major #investment firms.

"A further nine are planned in Wales, one in #Scotland, five in #GreaterManchester and a handful in other parts of the UK, the data shows.

"While the new data centres are mostly due for completion by 2030, the biggest single one planned would come later - a £10-billion AI data centre in #Blyth, near #Newcastle, for the American private investment and wealth management company #Blackstone Group.

"It would involve building 10 giant buildings covering 540,000 square meters - the size of several large shopping centres - on the site of a former #BlythPowerStation.

"Works are set to begin in 2031 and last for more than three years.

"#Microsoft is planning four new data centres in the UK at a total cost of £330 million, with an estimated completion between 2027 and 2029 - two in the #Leeds area, one near Newport in #Wales, and a five-storey site in Acton, north west London.

"And Google is building two data centres, totalling £450m, spread over 400,000 sq m in north east London in the #LeeValley water system."

Read more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr9nx0jrzo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/GukDh

#NoNukesForAI #WaterIsLife #ElectricityUsage #WaterUsage #TechBros #Capitalism #BigTech #BigTechIsWatchingYou #Datacenters #chatbots #InvestmentFirms

Wall Street is thirsty for its next big investment opportunity: The West's vanishing water

Cibola is one place few Americans have ever heard of, which made it all the more surprising when an investment firm bought nearly 500 acres there.

By Lucy Kafanov, CNN, Mar 22, 2023

"'These companies aren't buying up plots of land because they want to farm here and be a part of the community, they're buying up land here for the water rights,' said Holly Irwin, a #Cibola resident and #LaPaz County district supervisor.

"'#Greenstone is going to make millions at the expense of what it's going to do to our communities in the future and the precedence it's going to set,' said Irwin. 'We are in the midst of an extreme drought, our communities need this water. At some point, the state has a responsibility to protect the people that are here and to protect our water and not cater to those that are buying property for the water rights to make millions off of it to benefit metropolitan areas.'"

#WaterIsLife #BigWater #Corporations #Capitalism #VanishingWater #WaterRights #WallStreet #InvestmentFirms

Read more:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/wall-street-investment-buying-land-us-west-water/1501347

1/2 Final Guidelines on common procedures and methodologies for the supervisory review and evaluation process for #InvestmentFirms → https://europa.eu/!t8NkxD.

⏭️ harmonise supervisory practices
📄 based on the Investment Firms Directive
🤝 done with @EBA_News

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/ESMAComms/status/1550081158913949697

#Scumbag #investmentfirms are buying a substantial amount of U.S.
#starterhomes. for renting!

Investment firms, like #TriconResidential, are quietly buying a substantial number of homes for sale in high-migration areas of the U.S. These firms are rece...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhY2MaFpDBE

#housing #housingcrisis