Google Opens New UK Data Centre as Part of £5bn Investment Plan
Google has opened a new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, marking a major milestone in its planned £5 billion investment in the UK over the next two years. The facility, which has been under construction since 2024, was officially opened by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The Waltham Cross site forms part of a broader wave of US investment into UK digital infrastructure, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading hub for cloud, AI, and advanced computing. While Google has not disclosed the capacity of the new data centre, the company previously indicated that around $1 billion would be invested directly in its construction.
The £5bn investment programme spans capital expenditure, research and development, engineering, and AI, including continued funding for Google DeepMind, the company’s UK-based AI research division. Google estimates that AI could add £400 billion to the UK economy by 2030, with investments aimed at supporting economic growth, job creation, and digital capability across the country.
Alongside the data centre announcement, Google confirmed a new clean energy partnership with Shell, which will act as its 24/7 carbon-free energy manager in the UK. The partnership will help balance renewable energy supply using battery energy storage systems (BESS) and optimise Google’s existing clean energy agreements, including power sourced from the Moray West offshore wind project in Scotland. Google expects its UK operations to reach 95% clean energy by 2026.
At the Waltham Cross facility, Google is deploying advanced air-cooling systems to reduce water usage and has designed the site to support future district heat recovery, enabling waste heat to be reused off-site if local infrastructure is developed.
The announcement underscores growing confidence in the UK’s digital infrastructure ecosystem, with Google also reportedly exploring future data centre development in Teesside as it continues to expand its UK footprint.
