The Aporia
The Aporia
Saker-Clark, H. (2026, October 20). Microsoft still committed to £22bn UK investment despite data centre withdrawal. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/microsoft-ai-technology-andy-burnham-press-association-b1301694.html
Saker-Clark, Henry. “Microsoft still committed to £22bn UK investment despite data centre withdrawal.” Evening Standard, 20 Oct. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/microsoft-ai-technology-andy-burnham-press-association-b1301694.html.
Saker-Clark, Henry. “Microsoft still committed to £22bn UK investment despite data centre withdrawal.” Evening Standard, October 20, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/microsoft-ai-technology-andy-burnham-press-association-b1301694.html.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
As of October 18, 2026, Microsoft dropped out of a major AI datacentre project in Loughton, Essex, due to concerns about delayed power supply access until the 2030s. The £2 billion Nscale facility, announced in 2025 and initially set to open next year, was meant to be the largest UK sovereign AI datacentre, crucial for AI technology development. However, Microsoft's withdrawal leaves the project without its anchor tenant. Despite this setback, Nscale remains committed to the Loughton project and other expansion sites in the UK while exploring alternative power sources. The company maintains a strong relationship with Microsoft for ongoing international projects. The cancellation highlights broader concerns about the UK’s ability to meet future energy demands for large-scale tech infrastructure.
