UK unveils Data Centre Covenant to speed up digital infrastructure

Chancellor John Healey's Autumn Budget introduced a Data Centre Covenant: developers get priority grid access in exchange for community investment, clean power and cyber resilience. A new Ministerial Control Centre will use Planning and Infrastructure Act powers to prioritize strategic projects.

• Developers must adopt a Local Benefit Plan funding transport, parks and town centers
• Priority grid connections go to projects that can be ready before 2030
• Requirements include minimizing water and power use and reusing waste heat
• Much of the framework is aspirational, with no hard rules or deadlines