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UK ties data-centre support to local and environmental commitments

Britain’s government published a Data Centre Covenant on 28 October 2026: strategic data centres meeting its criteria can receive support to accelerate electricity connections and planning approvals.

The framework calls for commitments on local benefits, jobs, water protection and security. The government plans to reserve or reallocate connection capacity for qualifying projects.

Temporary on-site power generation is envisaged for exceptionally strategic projects, subject to conditions and where other options prove insufficient. The detailed definition of strategic centres remains to be set out. The covenant offers support; it does not establish that new connections or infrastructure have already been delivered.

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