Siemens earns Platinum in EcoVadis Sustainability Rating

German multinational technology company Siemens has been awarded the Platinum medal in the 2025 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating. This achievement places Siemens among the top 1% of around 130,000 companies assessed worldwide by EcoVadis, a provider of business sustainability ratings. The Platinum medal, according to the company, "underscores Siemens' commitment to sustainability and reflects achievements across all of EcoVadis’ assessment areas: Environment, Ethics, Labour & Human Rights, and Sustainable Procurement." EcoVadis assessed Siemens with a score of 85 points. In addition, Siemens Mobility was assessed separately, achieving a score of 84 points. More than 90% of Siemens’ business enables customers to achieve a positive sustainability impact across three key areas: decarbonisation and energy efficiency, resource efficiency and circularity, and people centricity & society. “Achieving the highest-ever score and being among the top 1% of all rated companies reinforces our position as a sustainability leader and recognises the dedication of our people,” claims Eva Riesenhuber, Global Head of Sustainability at Siemens. “Sustainability is at the core of our business, and we are continuing to scale our impact in the areas of industry, infrastructure, and mobility, while empowering our customers to become more competitive, more resilient, and more sustainable.” Andreas Mehlhorn, Head of Sustainability at Siemens Mobility, adds, “Being awarded the EcoVadis Platinum medal once again is a strong testament to our leading position in the rail industry. "It reflects our commitment to integrating sustainable solutions for our customers by maintaining rigorous sustainability standards across our operations and supply chain.” The EcoVadis business sustainability rating is based on international sustainability standards, including the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and ISO 26000. For more from Siemens, click here.

The hidden cost of overuse and misuse of data storage

Most organisations are storing far more data than they use and, while keeping it “just in case” might feel like the safe option, it’s a habit that can quietly chip away at budgets, performance, and even sustainability goals. At first glance, storing everything might not seem like a huge problem. But when you factor in rising energy prices and ballooning data volumes, the cracks in that strategy start to show. Over time, outdated storage practices, from legacy systems to underused cloud buckets, can become a surprisingly expensive problem. Mike Hoy, Chief Technology Officer at UK edge infrastructure provider Pulsant, explores this growing challenge for UK businesses: More data, more problems Cloud computing originally promised a simple solution: elastic storage, pay-as-you-go, and endless scalability. But in practice, this flexibility has led many organisations to amass sprawling, unmanaged environments. Files are duplicated, forgotten, or simply left idle – all while costs accumulate. Many businesses also remain tied to on-premises legacy systems, either from necessity or inertia. These older infrastructures typically consume more energy, require regular maintenance, and provide limited visibility into data usage. Put unmanaged cloud plus outdated on-prem systems together and you’ve got a recipe for inefficiency. The financial sting of bad habits Most leaders in IT understand storing and securing data costs money. But what often gets overlooked are the hidden costs: the backup of low-value data, the power consumption of idle systems, or the surprise charges that come from cloud services which are not being monitored properly. Then there’s the operational cost. Disorganised or poorly labelled data makes access slower and compliance tougher. It also increases security risks, especially if sensitive information is spread across uncontrolled environments. The longer these issues go unchecked, the more danger there is of a snowball effect. Smarter storage starts with visibility The first step towards resolving these issues isn’t deleting data indiscriminately, it’s understanding what’s there. Carrying out an infrastructure or storage audit can shed light on what’s being stored, who’s using it, and whether it still serves a purpose. Once that visibility is at your fingertips, you can start making smarter decisions about what stays, what goes, and what gets moved somewhere more cost-effective. This is where a hybrid approach of combining cloud, on-premises, and edge infrastructure comes into play. It lets businesses tailor their storage to the job at hand, reducing waste while improving performance. Why edge computing is part of the solution Edge computing isn’t just a tech buzzword; it’s an increasingly practical way to harness data where it’s generated. By processing information at the edge, organisations can act on insights faster, reduce the volume of data stored centrally, and ease the load on core networks and systems. Edge computing technologies make this approach practical. By using regional edge data centres or local processing units, businesses can filter and process data closer to its source, sending only essential information to the cloud or core infrastructure. This reduces storage and transmission costs and helps prevent the build-up of redundant or low-value data that can silently increase expenses over time. This approach is particularly valuable in data-heavy industries such as healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, where large volumes of real-time information are produced daily. Processing data locally enables businesses to store less, move less, and act faster. The wider payoff Cutting storage costs is an obvious benefit but it’s far from the only one. A smarter, edge-driven strategy helps businesses build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable digital infrastructure: • Lower energy usage — By processing and filtering data locally, organisations reduce the energy demands of transmitting and storing large volumes centrally, supporting both carbon reduction targets and lower utility costs. As sustainability reporting becomes more critical, this can also help meet Scope 2 emissions goals. • Faster access to critical data — When the most important data is processed closer to its source, teams can respond in real time, meaning improved decision-making, customer experience, and operational agility. • Greater resilience and reliability — Local processing means organisations are less dependent on central networks. If there’s an outage or disruption, edge infrastructure can provide continuity, keeping key services running when they’re needed most. • Improved compliance and governance — By keeping sensitive data within regional boundaries and only transmitting what’s necessary, businesses can simplify compliance with regulations such as GDPR, while reducing the risk of data sprawl and shadow IT. Ultimately, it’s about creating a storage and data environment that’s fit for modern demands. It needs to be fast, flexible, efficient and aligned with wider business priorities. Don’t let storage be an afterthought Data is valuable - but only when it's well managed. When storage becomes a case of “out of sight, out of mind,” businesses end up paying more for less. And what do they have to show for it? Ageing infrastructure and bloated cloud bills. A little housekeeping goes a long way. By adopting modern infrastructure strategies, including edge computing and hybrid storage models, businesses can transform data storage from a hidden cost centre into a source of operational efficiency and competitive advantage. For more from Pulsant, click here.

365 Data Centers, Megaport grow partnership

365 Data Centers (365), a provider of network-centric colocation, network, cloud, and other managed services, has announced a further expansion of its partnership with Megaport, a global Network-as-a-Service provider (NaaS). Megaport has broadened its 365 footprint by adding Points of Presence (PoPs) at several of 365 Data Centers’ colocation facilities - namely Alpharetta, GA; Aurora, CO; Boca Raton, FL; Bridgewater, NJ; Carlstadt, NJ; and Spring Garden, PA - enhancing public cloud and other connectivity systems available to 365’s customers. Said customers will now be able to access DIA, Transport, and direct-to-cloud connectivity options to all the major public cloud hyperscalers - such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud - directly from 365 Data Centers. “Integrating Megaport’s advanced connectivity solutions into our data centers is a natural progression of our partnership and network-centric strategy," comments Derek Gillespie, CRO at 365 Data Centers. "When we’ve added to Megaport’s presence in other facilities, the deployments [have] fortified our joint Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and NaaS offerings and complemented our partnership in major markets. "Megaport’s growing presence with 365 significantly enhances the public cloud connectivity options available to our customers.” Michael Reid, CEO at Megaport, adds, “Our expanded partnership with 365 Data Centers is all about pushing boundaries and delivering more for our customers. "Together, we’re making cutting-edge network solutions easier to access, no matter the size or location of the business, so customers can connect, scale, and innovate on their terms.” For more from 365 Data Centers, click here.

Fujitsu developing 10,000+ qubit quantum computer

Japanese multinational ICT company Fujitsu today announced it has started research and development towards a superconducting quantum computer with a capacity exceeding 10,000 qubits. Construction is slated for completion in fiscal 2030. The new superconducting quantum computer will operate with 250 logical qubits and will utilise Fujitsu's 'STAR architecture,' an early-stage fault-tolerant quantum computing (early-FTQC) architecture also developed by the company. Fujitsu aims to make practical quantum computing possible - particularly in areas like materials science, where complex simulations could unlock ground breaking discoveries - and, to this end, will focus on advancing key scaling technologies across various technical domains. As part of this effort, Fujitsu has been selected as an implementing party for the 'Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems,' publicly solicited by the NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation). The company will be contributing to the thematic area of advancing the development of quantum computers towards industrialisation. The project will be promoted through joint research with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and RIKEN, and will run until fiscal year 2027. After this 10,000-qubit machine is built, the company says it will further pursue advanced research initiatives targeting the integration of superconducting and diamond spin-based qubits from fiscal 2030, aiming to realise a 1,000 logical qubit machine in fiscal 2035, while considering the possibility of multiple interconnected quantum bit-chips. Comments Vivek Mahajan, Corporate Executive Officer, Corporate Vice President, CTO, in charge of System Platform, Fujitsu, claims, "Fujitsu is already recognised as a world leader in quantum computing across a broad spectrum, from software to hardware. "This project, led by NEDO, will contribute significantly to Fujitsu’s goal of further developing a 'Made in Japan' fault tolerant superconducting quantum computer. "We would also be aiming to combine superconducting quantum computing with diamond spin technology as part of our roadmap. "By realising 250 logical qubits in fiscal 2030 and 1,000 logical qubits in fiscal 2035, Fujitsu is committed to leading the path forward globally in the field of quantum computing. "Additionally, Fujitsu will be developing the next generation of its HPC platform, using its FUJITSU-MONAKA processor line, which will also power FugakuNEXT. Fujitsu will further integrate its platforms for high-performance and quantum computing to offer a comprehensive computing platform to our customers." Focus areas for technological development Fujitsu says its research efforts will focus on developing the following scaling technologies: • High-throughput, high-precision qubit manufacturing technology — Improvement of the manufacturing precision of Josephson Junctions, critical components of superconducting qubits which minimise frequency variations. • Chip-to-chip interconnect technology — Development of wiring and packaging technologies to enable the interconnection of multiple qubit chips, facilitating the creation of larger quantum processors. • High-density packaging and low-cost qubit control — Addressing the challenges associated with cryogenic cooling and control systems, including the development of techniques to reduce component count and heat dissipation. • Decoding technology for quantum error correction — Development of algorithms and system designs for decoding measurement data and correcting errors in quantum computations. Background The world faces increasingly complex challenges that demand computational power beyond the reach of traditional computers. Quantum computers offer the promise of tackling these previously intractable problems, driving advancements across numerous fields. While a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer with 1 million qubits of processing power is considered the ultimate goal, Fujitsu states it is focused on delivering practical solutions in the near term. In August 2024, in collaboration with the University of Osaka, Fujitsu unveiled its 'STAR architecture,' an efficient quantum computing architecture based on phase rotation gates. This architecture could pave the way for early-FTQC systems capable of outperforming conventional computers with only 60,000 qubits. On the hardware front, the RIKEN RQC-Fujitsu Collaboration Center, established in 2021 with RIKEN, has already yielded a 64-qubit superconducting quantum computer in October 2023, followed by a 256-qubit system in April 2025. Scaling to even larger systems requires overcoming challenges such as maintaining high fidelity across multiple interconnected qubit chips and achieving greater integration of components and wiring within dilution refrigerators. In addition to its superconducting approach, Fujitsu is reportedly also exploring the potential of diamond spin-based qubits, which use light for qubit connectivity. The company is conducting research in this area in collaboration with Delft University of Technology and QuTech, a quantum technology research institute, which has resulted in the successful creation of accurate and controllable qubits. For more from Fujitsu, click here.

Sabey announces Austin Building B

Sabey Data Centers, a data centre developer, owner, and operator, has announced that construction is under way for Building B on its growing Austin campus, located in the burgeoning tech corridor of Round Rock, Texas. This three-storey facility is designed to deliver a total of 54 megawatts of power capacity, with the first 18 megawatts expected to be ready for service in Q3 2027. Sabey says Austin B continues its commitment to building "scalable, energy-efficient digital infrastructure tailored for enterprise and hyperscale needs." The facility is liquid-cooling-ready by design, building on Austin Building A, where 86% of current deployments are liquid-cooled. This next phase of development hopes to ensure that Sabey is well-positioned to support the rising demand for high-density compute environments such as AI, HPC, and advanced research workloads. “As we continue to expand our national footprint, launching construction on Austin B represents an important milestone in serving one of the country’s fastest-growing technology markets,” comments Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers. “The Round Rock facility is purpose-built for flexibility and efficiency, and it offers an ideal home for forward-thinking customers with evolving density needs.” Preleasing is now open, with the building being engineered to accommodate a range of cooling strategies and power densities, including hybrid and liquid-cooled deployments exceeding 200 kilowatts per rack. Sabey Data Centers is a joint venture between Sabey Corporation and National Real Estate Advisors, acting as the investment manager on behalf of its institutional clients. For more from Sabey, click here.

Mayflex signs distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer

Mayflex, a UK-based distributor of converged IP infrastructure, networking, and electronic security products, has announced a new distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer, adding the Netherlands-based manufacturer’s power distribution units (PDUs) and energy management tools to the Elevate brand’s data centre infrastructure portfolio. The partnership aims to support Mayflex’s ongoing focus on high-performance computing (HPC) and data centre (DC) environments, with a particular emphasis on providing equipment that is efficient, scalable, and compliant with European standards. Schleifenbauer, which designs and manufactures its products in the Netherlands, will supply intelligent PDUs and related energy management software for integration into the Elevate range. The collaboration hopes to enhance delivery times and flexibility, particularly for UK and Ireland customers. Product and operational features The partnership will see the inclusion of several features designed to improve operational performance and ease of use across data centre projects: • European manufacturing — All Schleifenbauer equipment is produced in the Netherlands, allowing for consistent quality control, shorter lead times, and full EU regulatory compliance. • Customisable production — The company offers a flexible manufacturing model with no minimum order requirements. This allows Mayflex customers to request individual units for trial projects, or bulk orders for larger-scale deployment, while maintaining consistent performance standards. • Energy monitoring software — Schleifenbauer’s energy management platform is available at no extra cost. The software enables real-time monitoring and optimisation of energy usage across installations. • Hot-swappable modules — PDUs include hot-swappable control components, enabling updates or maintenance without downtime. • Short lead times — Schleifenbauer’s production model supports faster turnaround and delivery times, which Mayflex aims to leverage across the Elevate product range. Comments from the companies Simon Jacobs, Product Manager at Mayflex, says, “We’re excited to welcome Schleifenbauer as a technology partner to our Elevate brand. Their intelligent power solutions are a perfect fit for our growing data centre portfolio. "The combination of European manufacturing, rapid lead times, and advanced features - like hot-swappable modules and free energy management software - makes this a compelling proposition for our customers.” Stuart Edmonds, UK and Ireland Sales Manager at Schleifenbauer, adds, “Partnering with Mayflex is a strategic move that allows us to expand our reach in the UK and Ireland. "Mayflex’s reputation for technical excellence and customer service aligns perfectly with our values. Together, we’re well-positioned to support the evolving needs of the HPC and data centre markets.”

Zayo Europe sees network expansion across UK and Germany

Network infrastructure provider Zayo Europe has reported a 61% increase in the total number of route miles it powers during the first half of 2025, compared to the second half of 2024. The growth has been spread across multiple European markets, with notable increases in the UK (241%) and Germany (173%). The company has attributed part of this expansion to its partnership with GasLINE. The figures reflect the momentum built since Zayo Europe became an independent entity in mid-2024. Since then, the company has focused on delivering network infrastructure across Europe’s complex and highly interconnected digital landscape. A major part of Zayo Europe’s current strategy involves increasing connectivity between data centres. The company now connects 600 sites across the continent, supporting digital services used by businesses, enterprises, and consumers. Alongside network expansion, Zayo Europe has also grown its workforce. Headcount rose by 10% during H1 2025, with roles added across delivery, customer service, finance, and internal operations. Further expansion is expected in the second half of the year, following Zayo Europe’s full acquisition of the Emerald Bridge subsea cable. The system provides G.652D dark fibre and high-capacity wave services between the UK and Dublin, Ireland. In the company's own words Colman Deegan, CEO at Zayo Europe, claims, “We always viewed H1 2025 as a pivotal period for Zayo Europe, marking a full year since we established ourselves as an independent entity. "While growth has always been a key success metric, the pace at which our best-in-class fibre infrastructure is now connecting data centres and points of presence across major European markets is especially encouraging as we look ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond. “Our continued network expansion not only enhances our service capabilities but also empowers our customers with greater reach, flexibility, and resilience, enabling them to scale operations, optimise performance, and react to evolving demands with confidence. “The growth achieved so far this year is testament to the strength and dedication of our team at Zayo Europe. Service excellence is in our DNA and is frequently cited as a driving force behind our ability to secure new partnerships and mission-critical connectivity projects. "That said, we’re not standing still. We’re aiming to continue this momentum throughout the rest of the year and well into 2026.” For more from Zayo Europe, click here.

Nxtra signs partnership with AMPIN

Indian data centre operator Nxtra (by Airtel) has signed a new agreement with AMPIN Energy Transition for an additional 125.65 MW of solar-wind hybrid energy via Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) connected projects. This brings the total renewable energy capacity supplied to Nxtra by AMPIN to more than 200 MW. The added capacity will be delivered in two phases, through captive projects located in Rajasthan and Karnataka. These will complement AMPIN’s existing supply of solar energy to Nxtra through intra-state, open access arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Under the new agreement, AMPIN will expand its service to 11 additional states and introduce new technologies, including large-scale ISTS-based renewable energy and consolidated supply from a single Independent Power Producer (IPP). Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra, says, “Sustainability is not just a commitment, it is our responsibility and our opportunity to lead. "By powering our digital infrastructure with over 200 MW of renewable energy through our partnership with AMPIN, we are setting new standards for the industry. "This achievement highlights our leadership in using ISTS-backed clean energy to power our facilities sustainably, boosting reliability, and ensuring tangible climate impact. "At Nxtra, we are determined to drive innovation and inspire action, ensuring that our operations not only support India’s digital growth but also protect its environment for generations to come.” Pinaki Bhattacharyya, founder, Managing Director, and CEO of AMPIN, adds, “With this partnership, we demonstrate that through a seamless blend of inter-state and intra-state renewable energy solutions backed by a pan-India presence, we can take any customer through a nearly 100% energy transition. "Nxtra by Airtel, a leader in the data and fast-growing data centre space, shares our vision for sustainability and we are proud to make data centres green by this association.” AMPIN’s approach aims to establish long-term relationships with customers by offering energy supply across various technologies and regions. It says the collaboration with Nxtra highlights the role of large-scale renewable energy agreements in increasing operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Nxtra, likewise, says it has committed to reaching net zero emissions and is aligning its efforts with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance. As part of this effort, the company is implementing a range of measures to reduce its direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2024, Nxtra joined the global RE100 initiative, pledging to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. It became the first data centre operator in India, and the 14th Indian company overall, to join the programme. For more from Nxtra, click here.

EUDCA announces Board of Directors for 2025/27

Further to member voting during its annual general meeting (AGM) held on 11 June 2025, the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), the representative body of the European data centre community, has announced its Board of Directors to steer it up to 2027. Board members met subsequently to appoint key positions and renew the mandates of existing committees and their leadership. A new Board to serve the EUDCA for 2025/27 Technical expertise, extensive experience, and commercial acumen is abundant across the Board, with knowledge spanning the entire data centre lifecycle, from investment and design to sustainability/ESG and operations. The EUDCA says that the "combined expertise of the Board is instrumental for the Association to advocate and serve its members." The Board now comprises of the following: • Lex Coors, Digital Realty — President of EUDCA & Policy Committee Chair• Laurens van Reijen, LCL Data Centres — Treasurer• Bruce Owen, Equinix — Vice President• Marie Chabanon, Data4 — Vice President, EUDCA & Technical Committee Chair• Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association — Vice President• Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX — Vice President, EUDCA & NTA representative• Matt Pullen, CyrusOne — Board Member, EUDCA & CNDCP Chair• Adam Eaton, Global Switch — Board Member• Andrew Harrison, Arup — Board Member• Matthew Baynes, Schneider Electric — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter — Board Member• Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Michael Winterson, EUDCA — Secretary General Leading the EUDCA Lex Coors, Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer at Digital Realty, unanimously retained his position as elected President to guide board and association operations. Michael Winterson continues as Secretary General, with Laurens van Reijen of LCL Data Centers as Treasurer. The EUDCA board also appointed four new Vice Presidents: Bruce Owen, Equinix; Marie Chabanon, Data4; Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association; and Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX. As a founding member of the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact (CNDCP), the EUDCA maintains a permanent Board seat at the Pact. As such, the EUDCA says it is happy to re-appoint Board Member Matt Pullen as the representative to the Pact where he will maintain his Chair position. Michael Winterson, Secretary General, EUDCA, comments, “As Europe moves to deliver its goals for a booming digital economy and strong AI sector, its dependence upon digital infrastructure has never been more critical. "The EUDCA continues to serve as the independent voice for Europe’s data centre community, connecting with policy makers to add nuance to the legislative process for regulations that advance digital growth. “The EUDCA remains a trusted and authoritative voice for the data centre industry. In a world of changing sentiments, we maintain a focus on the efficiency and sustainability of data centre services through our close association with the CNDCP. "As a board, we remain committed to being at the forefront of shaping policy within Europe, protecting the interests of our constituents whilst looking after the planet.” EUDCA committees bolster leadership Having renewed the mandates of existing committees with some restructuring, the Policy Committee sees Lex Coors reappointed as Chair and Eve Fensome (Stack Infrastructure) as Deputy Chair. The Technical Committee will be led by Marie Chabanon as Chair and Chad McCarthy (nLighten) as Deputy Chair. National trade associations work with the EUDCA From the national trade associations, the three existing representatives - Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association; Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter; and Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association - were confirmed as part of the board. For more from the EUDCA, click here.

Report: 'UK risks losing billions in AI investment'

According to a new report published today from trade association TechUK, the Data Centre Alliance, Copper Consultancy, and law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, the UK risks losing out on billions in AI investment if it doesn’t take clear steps to unlock data centre development. The report, How to Make the UK an AI Leader, brings together reflections from some of the biggest data centre developers - as well as planners and construction, engineering, and legal professions - at a recent industry roundtable organised by Copper and Charles Russell Speechlys. The roundtable, and subsequent report, lay bare the challenges facing data centre development in the UK, and the impacts this could have on investment into UK plc. Key regulatory barriers – such as energy availability, energy cost, and planning complexity – were identified alongside low public awareness as the main issues hobbling development of data centres in the UK. Luisa Cardani, Head of Data Centre Programme at TechUK, says, “The insights in this report echo what TechUK and the sector have been advocating for a long time: the UK has the talent, the ambition, and the capability to lead in AI and digital infrastructure, but leadership is not guaranteed. It requires bold decisions, cross-sector collaboration, and a shared national vision.” Steve Hone, CEO at Data Centre Alliance, adds, “As [a] trade association representing the UK data centre digital sector, we were delighted to be invited to collaborate in the recent roundtable which has culminated in the creation of this report. "This timely report is an important contribution to the debate and hopefully will act as a catalyst for the action needed to ensure the UK’s digital infrastructure remains world leading.” The report notes how high energy prices are currently hindering the UK's global competitiveness in data centres and AI - actively dissuading investment in the UK. Given the resource-intensive nature of data centres, the report suggests that the industry needs the Government to intervene through targeted subsidies, reducing costs to match energy costs in rival regions like the US and Nordics. Concerns have also been raised with 'AI Growth Zones' being seen as a "silver bullet for the industry." Whilst, according to the report, the industry welcomes government support, the current planning framework is seen as "overly rigid" and "risks misalignment with actual demand and repeating past planning mistakes like Slough's unplanned growth." As a response, a new planning use class could allow for flexible, demand-led planning, which would be especially important in the fast-moving AI industry. Finally, public perception is seen as a critical non-regulatory issue for the sector to tackle, with half the UK’ s population not knowing what a data centre is. Such low awareness leaves the public open to misinformation and a fundamental lack of understanding as to why data centres are critical to a future economy. The report calls on the industry to engage more proactively on the needs case for data centres with the public, supported by the Government outlining why their development is critical to growth. Ronan Cloud, Director at Copper Consultancy, argues, “While Grey Belt reforms are beneficial, considerable planning inertia remains. Government should create a dedicated planning use class for data centres at once, distinct from broader industrial uses. "This tailored classification would increase planning approvals and accommodate future technological developments.” Kevin Gibbs, Senior Consultant at Charles Russell Speechlys, comments, “Whilst the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan commits £2 billion to AI Growth Zones to accelerate infrastructure delivery, there is much more that both the industry and Government can, and should, be doing. "To truly become an AI leader and unlock economic growth, the UK needs to make a clear and compelling case for data centres. It needs to act now to alleviate some of the barriers.”