Autumn Budget 2026: UK chancellor ties datacentre grid access to community tests
Summary
<p>In his Autumn Budget, UK chancellor John Healey has made priority grid <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/resources/Data-centre-capacity-planning">connections for datacentres</a> conditional on strict tests around community investment, local jobs and water supplies.</p> <p>This British “datacentre covenant” comes as Westminster takes in a datacentre backlash that has paused development across Scotland, and seen protests and petitions spring up across the UK.</p> <p>Healey said the covenant would require operators to invest in local communities, create local jobs and protect local…
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Datacentre covenant pleases developers more than campaigners
<p>Chancellor John Healey’s announcement of a <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366652837/Autumn-Budget-2026-UK-chancellor-ties-datacentre-grid-access-to-community-tests">datacentre covenant</a> drew fire from campaigners and industry alike after Wednesday’s Autumn...
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Autumn Budget 2026: UK chancellor ties datacentre grid access to community tests
<p>In his Autumn Budget, UK chancellor John Healey has made priority grid <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/resources/Data-centre-capacity-planning">connections for datacentres</a> conditional on strict tests around community investment, local jobs and water...
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