Following the big reveal of the UK’s AI action plan on 13 Janaury, Nscale announced plans to invest $2.5 billion in the UK’s data centre industry over the next three years, to include the development of advanced AI data centres in both fixed and modular formats, that are powered by clean energy and equipped with cutting-edge generative AI technology.
Nscale has confirmed its first UK data centre with the purchase of a site in Loughton. The site is equipped to support 50MW of AI and HPC capacity, with the ability to scale the power allocation up to 90MW, all utilising advanced liquid cooling to support generative AI GPU deployments. The site is scheduled to be live in the fourth quarter 2026. This UK facility can house up to 45,000 of the latest Nvidia GB200 GPUs.
The company also plans to begin construction of multiple modular UK-based data centres in quarters three and four of 2025, with further expansion of fixed data centres slated for the following years.
Nscale’s investment supports the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in AI infrastructure by delivering a full stack of AI technologies and services. The new data centres will provide essential UK sovereign, secure and private AI computing infrastructure for industries, research institutions, and enterprises, ensuring data remains securely within Europe while driving innovation and stimulating economic growth.
“Our investment in the UK marks a significant milestone in building next-generation AI infrastructure,” said Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale. “This expansion will help us meet the growing demand for generative AI by deploying advanced GPU clusters more efficiently. Additionally, capital from our recent funding round will accelerate our global 1.3 GW pipeline of greenfield data centres, with 120 MW planned for development in 2025. This underscores our commitment to delivering sustainable, scalable AI infrastructure that drives innovation and economic growth.”
“Data sovereignty is at the heart of our strategy. As our customers and prospects increasingly prioritise sovereignty in their selection of an AI cloud provider, our investment will create a secure, GenAI cloud for the UK – ensuring sensitive data stays within the country’s borders while enabling businesses to access cutting-edge AI capabilities,” said Karl Havard, COO of Nscale. “By combining sovereignty with high-performance AI infrastructure, we’re driving innovation, attracting additional investment into the UK economy, and proving that technological leadership can be built on secure, compliant, and purpose-driven foundations, that can be led from the UK.”
