Questions Before ConcreteData centres in England and Wales
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The issues · How decisions are made

Who decides, and when?

England and Wales are taking different routes. England is moving the biggest schemes towards central government; Wales relies on general policy and on ministers choosing when to step in.

Why it matters

Knowing who decides, and when, tells you when your voice can make a difference.

Where government is landowner, promoter and regulator all at once, clear rules matter even more.

Key points

  • Welsh planning policy does not explicitly mention data centres.[1]
  • In England, reforms have moved decisions on the largest schemes towards central government.[2]
  • In August 2026 the Welsh Government paused a decision on a Cardiff data-centre proposal while it considered deciding it itself.[3]
  • Industry commentators have said the lack of a Welsh data-centre strategy is a gap.[4]

Questions you can ask

Drafted in full so you can copy, adapt and send them. See the questions tracker for all of them, with a downloadable version.

Ask: the Welsh Government

“Will the Welsh Government publish a data-centre policy statement setting out how proposals will be assessed, how conflicts between its roles as landowner, promoter and regulator will be managed, and how host communities can expect to benefit?”

Follow-up: Not yet asked, so far as we know.

What you can do

  • Find the application on your council's planning website, and check what the documents say on this issue, or whether they are silent. See Start here.
  • Check whether the environmental assessment has been done properly, using our plain guide to EIA.
  • Send the questions on this page in writing and keep copies.
  • If information is missing, ask for it through WhatDoTheyKnow.
  • Ask your town or community council to raise the issue in its response.
  • List your group in the campaigns directory so others can find you.

Read this issue in depth

Sources

  1. Senedd Research, Data Centres in Wales: How Will Wales Manage a Rapidly Growing Industry? (July 2026). https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/data-centres-in-wales-how-will-wales-manage-a-rapidly-growing-industry/
  2. Browne Jacobson, NPPF 2026 Amendments: Data Centres and On-Site Energy Generation (2026), summarising National Planning Policy Framework reforms concerning data-centre and AI infrastructure planning (2024–2026). https://www.brownejacobson.com/insights/nppf-2026-amendments-browne-jacobson-response/data-centres-and-on-site-energy-generation
  3. Britbrief, Welsh Government Could Decide Cardiff Data Centre Plans After Holding Directive (August 2026). https://britbrief.co.uk/business/property/welsh-government-may-decide-cardiff-data-centre-plans.html
  4. Business News Wales, The Rise of Data Centres in Wales (2026). https://businessnewswales.com/the-rise-of-data-centres-in-wales/