A data centre is a specialised facility that houses computer systems and related equipment used to store, process, and distribute digital data. It is the essential physical infrastructure that powers services such as email, AI models, bank transactions, websites and video streaming services. The UK Government states that data centres “underpin almost all economic activity and innovation, including the development of AI and other technology, public service delivery, and how we interact with one another.” In fact, this very website is hosted in a data centre, which your computer is connecting to in order to display it!

According to a 2024 techUK report, data centres currently support over 40,000 jobs in the UK, and generate over £600 million per year in tax revenue to the exchequer. As the number of data centres grow to match the increasing demand for their services, both of these numbers will only continue to rise.

Data centres are increasingly being reported on by local and national media outlets. Some of these articles spread false, exaggerated or misleading claims about data centres, so it’s important to understand what they do and how they could impact you. The “Our Proposal” page covers this is more detail.