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AI Growth Zones: submit an expression of interest

Published 10 February 2025

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The UK government is accelerating efforts to build the infrastructure needed to support AI growth. AI Growth Zones will unlock investment in AI-enabled data centres and support infrastructure by improving access to power and providing planning support. This will help drive innovation, create high-skilled jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in AI.

To support the development of AI Growth Zones, we are inviting expressions of interest (EOI) from:

This will help us understand early opportunities and inform the next stage of the programme.

This EOI is not part of the formal AIGZ selection process, which will still open as planned in Spring 2025. However, it will help inform site selection and policy development, ensuring we are able move quickly to secure investment and growth.

Local and regional authorities

Local and regional authorities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including city and regional mayors, that have identified potential sites suitable for hosting 500MW+ of AI infrastructure.

We are particularly interested in:

  • sites with large existing power connections (100MW+) or a clear path to securing them
  • deindustrialised areas with land and infrastructure suitable for redevelopment
  • locations near land suitable for hosting low carbon power generation and storage
  • regions with an existing tech or industrial base that could benefit from AI infrastructure and support the formation of a wider innovation hub
  • authorities willing to work collaboratively on ambitious planning and energy solutions to accelerate AI infrastructure deployment

Industry

Industry, including data centre developers and energy firms, with ambitious proposals to establish at least a 500MW AI infrastructure cluster by 2030, although we also welcome larger-scale projects.

We are particularly interested in strategic proposals that go beyond data centre developments to contribute to the UK’s broader AI ecosystem, including research, innovation, skills development, and energy solutions.

Proposals should:

  • set out a clear pathway to 500MW+ capacity, including rough timelines and key development milestones
  • identify what support is needed from government to unlock development
  • indicate any partnership opportunities with local authorities and/or ways in which an AI Growth Zone proposal would support the UK’s wider AI ecosystem beyond providing computing power

Submit an EOI

The submission deadline is 28 February 2025. Email aigrowthzones@dsit.gov.uk to submit an EOI.

If you have a question, you can also email aigrowthzones@dsit.gov.uk.

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