Guidance

AI Growth Zones: open for applications

Published 30 April 2025

The UK government is accelerating efforts to build the infrastructure needed to support AI growth. AI Growth Zones will unlock investment in AI-enabled data centres and support infrastructure by improving access to power and providing planning support. This will help drive innovation, create high-skilled jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in AI.

Who can apply

Applications are invited from:

• regional and local authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including city and regional mayors
• industry including data centre developers and energy firms

Criteria for applicants

There are 4 sections that each AIGZ application will be considered against:

1. Technical feasibility (criteria)

This covers:

• Power availability
• Water availability and discharge
• Land availability and area information
• Planning
• Connectivity

Power availability

Sites must demonstrate access to at least 500MW of power capacity by 2030.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide the following:

• A confirmation letter from National Grid, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) (or the relevant transmission operator) setting out a secured connection agreement or formally allocated capacity, or
• A credible behind-the-meter solution supported by detailed technical documentation (e.g. feasibility studies, supplier Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), permitting timelines).

While 500MW by 2030 is the minimum requirement, sites with greater capacity will be viewed favourably.

Water availability and discharge

Sites must demonstrate sufficient access to water to support at least 500MW of AI infrastructure.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide written confirmation from the relevant local water supplier. This written confirmation should include:

• Volumes required and available
• Infrastructure requirements or constraints
• Timelines for delivery

Applicants should also set out plans for managing wastewater discharges, including any necessary permits, infrastructure requirements, and engagement with the relevant regulatory bodies.

Land availability and area information

Sites must have a minimum of 100 acres of land available for the construction of AI infrastructure by 2028.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide the following:

• Title deeds or equivalent proof of ownership/control
• Site plan/map clearly delineating developable land
• Where land is not currently developable, a credible and time-bound remediation or enabling works plan, including budget, timeline, and responsible party to enable works by 2028

While 100 acres is the minimum requirement, sites with greater land availability will be viewed favourably, particularly where this supports long-term scalability and cluster development.

Note: A remediation plan will be considered more credible if it is agreed by the relevant environmental regulator (e.g., the Environment Agency in England).

Planning

Sites must either have existing planning permission, or a robust and deliverable plan to secure full planning consent by 2028.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide the following:

• A copy of existing planning consent covering the intended use, or
• A planning pathway document, including:
  
  • Site status in the Local Plan
  • Pre-application and consultation status
  • Projected submission and decision timeline
  • Risks to delivery and mitigation plan

Please also include any other relevant information about the area, such as:

• Relevant economic status (e.g., freeports, investment zones)
• Relevant local planning authority

Note: Overlaps with Freeports or Investment Zones will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Sites that fall within these areas must demonstrate clear complementarity.

Connectivity

Sites with strong, reliable, and readily available digital connectivity will be viewed favourably (fibre and mobile).

Applicants are encouraged to provide the following as evidence:

• Network operator letter confirmation of existing fibre and mobile coverage
• Network operator letter on plans to extend or upgrade connectivity
• Any relevant commercial or government partnerships

2. Delivery feasibility (criteria)

This covers:

• Regional power impact
• Delivery team and execution
• Local support

Regional power impact

Sites located in areas with lower existing grid congestion will be viewed favourably, as they are more likely to support balanced management of overall system demand and supply.

Applicants are encouraged to provide the following as evidence:

• a map of local transmission network capacity, or
• a statement from their network operator, to demonstrate low congestion or headroom availability.

Delivery team and execution

Applicants must provide initial proposals for their delivery team and execution approach.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide the following:

• Team structure and key personnel
• Role and responsibilities
• Subcontractor and delivery partner integration
• Resourcing and continuity plan
• Risk and contingency planning

Local support

Applicants must provide evidence of support from relevant local authorities and  a willingness to work collaboratively with government and partners to meet ambitious delivery timelines.

To demonstrate this, applicants must provide the following:

• Letters of support from the relevant local authority/authorities
• Evidence of engagement with local stakeholders (e.g. LEPs, development corporations)
• An outline of how the applicant will work with central and local government to meet tight delivery timelines

3. Local impact (criteria)

This covers:

• Regional ecosystem impact and development plans
• Local benefits
• Low carbon energy solutions

Regional ecosystem impact and development plans

Sites that can demonstrate how an AI Growth Zone would enhance the surrounding regional innovation ecosystem - including R&D capacity, industrial clusters, academic partnerships and AI employment and business - will be viewed favourably.

Proposals should set out how the development would strengthen the UK’s wider AI economy, build on existing regional strengths, and align with long-term local growth strategies.

Applicants are encouraged to provide the following as evidence:

• Existing or planned partnerships with universities or Registered Training Organisation (RTOs)
• Proximity to AI-relevant clusters (e.g. robotics, semiconductors)
• Links to local innovation funding or accelerator programmes
• Alignment with published regional development plans or economic strategies

Local benefits

Sites that can demonstrate clear and measurable benefits to the local community will be viewed favourably.

These may include:

• job creation
• investment in local infrastructure or community assets
• delivery of training and education programmes for local residents, and
• the regeneration of brownfield or underused land

In assessing local benefits, government may also consider whether the proposed AIGZ displaces or limits other forms of strategically important development on or around the site.

Applicants are encouraged to provide the following as evidence:

• Forecast job creation (construction and operational)
• Commitments to local skills, training, or education delivery
• Planned investment in community infrastructure or assets
• Plans for regeneration of brownfield or underused sites

Low carbon energy solutions

Sites located near land suitable for the development of low-carbon power generation and energy storage infrastructure will be viewed favourably.

Applicants are encouraged to provide the following as evidence:

• Existing or planned low carbon generation in the area
• Available land parcels for low-carbon energy solutions
• Evidence of engagement with low-carbon energy solutions providers

4. Level of government support requested (criteria)

Applicants should clearly set out any specific asks of government that would be required to make the proposed AIGZ viable - particularly where these relate to meeting minimum technical requirements or accelerating delivery within the required timeframe.

This should include:

• Details of the support requested (e.g. regulatory flexibility, planning assistance, coordination with agencies)
• The specific barriers the ask is intended to address
• Delivery timelines that would be unlocked with this support

Note: government’s ability to accelerate power connection timelines is extremely limited. Sites that rely primarily on government intervention to secure or bring forward a grid connection date by a considerable margin are unlikely to be viable.

How to apply 

You can submit an application at any time to aigrowthzones@dsit.gov.uk. Your application should clearly state how you meet the criteria and include supporting evidence.

Apply by the end of May 2025 if you wish to be chosen as an AI Growth Zone in the summer of 2025.

After 1 June 2025, the application process will stay open indefinitely.  

If you are not selected as an AI Growth Zone in summer 2025 you can apply again. If you have applied before, and the details of your application have changed substantially, please contact the AI Growth Zone team at aigrowthzones@dsit.gov.uk.