- Nscale plans to build multiple modular data centres in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, with fixed facilities in the following years.
- The first UK data centre in Loughton, Essex, will support 50MW of AI compute capacity, expandable to 90MW, and create 750 jobs.
What happened: Nscale announces $2.5B UK data centre expansion for AI
Nscale, a London-headquartered AI hyperscaler, has announced a $2.5 billion investment in the UK’s data centre industry over the next three years. This significant expansion will include the construction of advanced AI data centres—both fixed and modular—powered by clean energy and equipped with cutting-edge GPU technology to meet the fast-growing demand for AI-driven workloads.
The first facility will be built in Loughton, Essex, and is scheduled to go live in Q4 2026. This site will support up to 50MW of AI compute capacity, expandable to 90MW, and will employ 45,000 Nvidia GB200 GPUs using advanced liquid cooling technologies. The Loughton site alone is expected to create 500 jobs during the construction phase and an additional 250 positions over three years for ongoing operations.
Beyond the Loughton site, Nscale aims to begin constructing multiple modular UK-based data centres in Q3 and Q4 2025, with further fixed data centre expansions planned for subsequent years. These facilities will provide vital, sovereign AI infrastructure, ensuring that data stays within Europe.
This move is poised to nurture innovation and accelerate the UK’s global competitiveness in AI, unlocking new commercial investment while empowering the local AI startup community.
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Why it’s important
This investment reinforces the UK’s aspirations to become a global leader in AI innovation. By building facilities powered by renewable energy and prioritizing data sovereignty, Nscale addresses two critical concerns for businesses: environmental impact and regulatory compliance.
The data centres’ modular design also ensures scalability to meet growing AI demands without environmentally taxing retrofits. Nscale’s investment aligns with the UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, promoting public-private partnerships to stimulate economic growth and drive AI innovation.
According to Nscale CEO Josh Payne, “Our expansion underscores our commitment to delivering sustainable, scalable AI infrastructure that drives innovation and economic growth.”
