Are data centres as bad as we are led to believe?

I live in a village not unlike the ones near some of our sites, so when I talk about data centres, I’m not speaking from a distant boardroom. I’m considering things from my personal perspective and thinking about the local communities, the people who live and work near them as well as the kind of future I would like for the next generation.

In a world of streaming, online banking, digital GP appointments and AI tools that are becoming part of everyday life, data centres are the backbone that keeps it all running. They process, store and protect the information and systems that power modern life. Without enough of them here in the UK, we risk slower services, greater reliance on overseas providers, and a digital economy that feels less secure and less ours.

These things are important to us all. Whether you’re watching a film on a Friday night, running a small business from home, or relying on hospital systems that need to stay online, data centres are critical to making these things work. They’re not abstract or new technology. They’re the reason the lights stay on for the digital part of life.

Everyday life runs through them

Think about how much has changed. Remote working, online learning, virtual healthcare appointments and electric vehicles (EVs) all lean on reliable digital infrastructure. EVs, for example, need constant data processing for battery management, software updates and safe interaction with the grid. Data centres make that possible at scale.

They also keep sensitive information under UK rules and closer to home. Lower latency (that is the waiting time between when you ask for something and when you get it) means smoother performance for real-time services. Stronger cybersecurity comes from keeping data within our own jurisdiction and under familiar regulations. When capacity is local, we reduce exposure to distant disruptions and keep more of the value and the control here.

Benefits that reach communities

There are positive effects of data centres that go beyond the buildings themselves. Data centres support skilled jobs in engineering, construction, facilities management and technology. They attract further investment in surrounding businesses. And they often bring new life to land that has sat unused for years.

A clear example is our Saunderton Campus in Buckinghamshire. The site was a former Molins tobacco machine factory that had stood derelict for 15 years. What was once an industrial brownfield is being carefully transformed into modern, AI-ready facilities spanning more than 50 acres. Living roofs help the buildings fit more gently into the landscape. The project regenerates the area, creates high-value work, and sits alongside the established ecosystem in nearby places such as Slough.

For me, seeing a site I knew as empty become something productive and forward-looking feels almost personal. It’s the kind of change that strengthens a community rather than leaving it behind.

Across the country similar stories are emerging. In places that once relied on older industries, data centres are helping create new pathways such as well-paid roles, training opportunities, and local business rates that support public services. They can act as anchors for wider digital activity, drawing in complementary companies and skills.

Building carefully and responsibly

At VIRTUS we have already invested £1.7 billion in UK infrastructure and have committed a further £2.7 billion over the next five years. We operate 13 live facilities, mainly in the Greater London area, delivering the reliability that national digital services depend on.

Our sites run on 100% renewable energy. We are proud to have been the first in the UK to achieve that milestone. Approximately 17% of our power comes directly from offshore wind through long-term agreements. These choices are not just technical. They reflect a belief that the infrastructure supporting everyday life should also support a cleaner future.

The wider industry is making similar commitments. Significant private capital is flowing into new capacity and more efficient designs. With the right conditions, data centres can support balanced growth from established hubs to emerging clusters in the North, Midlands, Wales and Scotland.

Addressing concerns openly

People rightly ask questions about water, energy, land use and location. The answers are more reassuring than the headlines sometimes suggest.

Modern facilities use closed-loop or water-efficient cooling systems. VIRTUS’ LONDON8 facility in West London, an average sized UK data centre with an 18MW of IT load required just 527 litres of water top-up in 2025. That sounds like a lot, but let’s give it some context. According to Water UK, the average UK household of four uses just under 200,000 litres of water per year. The cooling system at LONDON8 uses 0.3% of the water a family of four uses over the same period.

When it comes to power, these sites typically connect at high voltage, away from local residential networks, and the industry is shifting strongly toward renewables. Long-term contracts with wind and solar projects actually help bring more clean generation online.

Land use is another common worry. New developments increasingly favour brownfield and former industrial sites rather than competing with housing. Space-efficient designs and higher densities keep footprints manageable. And while Greater London remains important, new projects are appearing in Manchester, South Wales, the North East, Lincolnshire and Scotland. These are places chosen for power availability, climate advantages for cooling, and the chance to support regional regeneration.

None of this means the sector is perfect or that every concern is already solved. Planning processes need to be clearer and faster. The electricity grid needs modernisation so strategic projects are not stuck in multi-year queues. Energy costs need to remain competitive. And we need a stronger pipeline of skilled people through apprenticeships, college links and practical training. These are real challenges, but they are being solved with a coordinated effort.

A foundation for the years ahead

The potential is substantial. Modelling suggests that with the right support, data centres could add tens of billions in economic value and tens of thousands of jobs over the coming decade. More importantly, they can help keep the UK digitally resilient, competitive and in control of its own data.

I see this work as more than developing and operating infrastructure. It is about making sure the digital services people rely on remain dependable, that local areas benefit from new investment and jobs, and that we build for the long term rather than short-term convenience. Because I grew up close to some of our data centres, the responsibility feels close. These facilities should serve the communities around them as well as the wider economy.

Data centres are not a luxury. They are part of the quiet foundation that lets modern life function smoothly. With thoughtful planning, continued private investment and a focus on people as well as technology, they can help deliver a more secure, more prosperous and more sustainable digital future for the UK – one that feels rooted in the places we call home.