UK government does not know what datacentres are being used for, FoI request shows

A freedom of information request suggests the UK government does not hold a record of what planned data centres will be used for. The disclosure has intensified concerns over whether ministers can assess the facilities’ energy, water and environmental impacts before approving projects. Data centres have been designated national infrastructure as artificial-intelligence demand expands. Critics say operators should provide clearer information about workloads, power consumption and water use. Ministers maintain the sector is essential to economic growth and digital resilience.