UK Met 137 Businesses but 0 Environmental Groups on AI Datacentre Policy
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 27
UK Met 137 Businesses but 0 Environmental Groups on AI Datacentre Policy
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 27
Summary
A 12-month investigation found UK officials shaping AI growth zones held meetings with 137 businesses, only two community groups and no environmental organisations between July 2024 and June 2026.
Forty FOI requests to 18 agencies by Spotlight on Corruption said the policy was driven largely by industry access, with some civil-society meetings held only days before launch and too late to influence decisions.
The report also flagged a revolving door: 38 ministers, senior civil servants and advisers moved into AI companies from July 2024 to September 2026, including nine from the science and technology department.
AI growth zones were a flagship Starmer-era plan to build massive datacentres across five regions, but critics say power, environmental and jobs claims were overstated as local opposition grows.
The government said datacentres should deliver jobs, clean power and community benefits, and that local planning processes and retained business rates would help host areas.