In the Budget on 28 October 2026 the Chancellor announced a Data Centre Covenant: a set of tests that “strategic” data centres must meet — on electricity bills, local benefit, water and nature, jobs, and security — in return for priority for a grid connection. Read what it says, and what it could mean for Wales.
At the same time the UK Government published a draft National Policy Statement for large data centres in England. Among other things it would require them to publish their energy and water use every year. It does not apply in Wales, which has no equivalent policy. More on the planning page.
We have also added a section on power for Bro Tathan: the Welsh Government’s plans for a 280 MW connection and a new 132 kV substation, National Grid’s plans for new substations beside Aberthaw, and the Welsh Government’s consultation on putting new power lines underground by default. See the case study.
Each section ends with the questions we intend to ask, and who they are addressed to.