Delivering AI Growth Zones

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HLWS1056

Delivering AI Growth Zones

Statement made on 13 November 2025

Statement UIN HLWS1056

Statement made by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Minister for Digital Economy

Labour

Life peer

Lords

Statement

I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Honourable Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Online Safety), Kanishka Narayan MP.
I am publishing a Command Paper Delivering AI Growth Zones setting out the Government’s strategy to ensure the United Kingdom remains a global leader in artificial intelligence by building the infrastructure that underpins AI development and deployment, creates jobs right across the UK and grows the economy.
Artificial intelligence is transforming economies and societies worldwide.
Being an AI maker, rather than an AI taker is a critical goal of our modern Industrial Strategy and today we set out how we'll build out the UK's AI data centre capacity to underpin this frontier industry and support the growth sectors of the UK.
For the UK, this is a strategic opportunity to drive growth, strengthen national security, and improve public services. To seize this opportunity, we must build secure, resilient, and sustainable compute capacity here at home.
The AI Growth Zones programme will accelerate the delivery of large-scale AI data centres by removing barriers to construction and creating the best possible environment for investment – whilst maximising the benefits for local people. The package announced today sets out:
A new North Wales AI Growth Zone, creating 3,450 jobs locally and delivering opportunities across both energy and technology sectors.
Reforms to accelerate grid connections, including prioritising connections for AI Growth Zones and enabling developers to build their own high-voltage infrastructure.
Targeted electricity price support for data centres in locations that strengthen the grid and reduce system costs.
Planning reforms in England to streamline approvals, update national policy guidance, and protect land for AI Growth Zones.
Measures to maximise local benefits, including an initial £5 million per site to benefit local communities.
A dedicated AI Growth Zone Delivery Unit, acting as a single front door for investors and coordinating delivery across government.
Taken together, these measures have the potential to unlock up to £100 billion in private investment and create over ten thousand jobs.
Over the past 12 months we have secured over £70bn of investment in AI infrastructure. Now, this ambitious programme will go further to secure our economic future and drive investment into parts of the country that have long been overlooked, securing the future of AI for local areas through new industries, skilled jobs, and lasting economic growth.

Statement from

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Linked statements

This statement has also been made in the House of Commons

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Delivering AI Growth Zones

Kanishka Narayan

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Online Safety)

Labour, Vale of Glamorgan

Statement made 13 November 2025

HCWS1057

Commons