Invisible Infrastructure: The Real Story of Data Centres

These often-anonymous buildings form the backbone of our digital economy. They quietly enable everything from e-commerce and entertainment to cloud storage, artificial intelligence and even cutting-edge medical research. Despite their vital role, data centres remain poorly understood and are too often dismissed as unwanted industrial monoliths or accused of draining resources.

This misperception needs to change.

At a recent panel discussion at UKREiiF, experts from across the data centre sector, including SEGRO, Google, Equinix, TechUK and CyrusOne, came together to explore both the promise and the challenges of this critical sector. A clear consensus emerged: public understanding has not kept pace with our growing reliance on digital infrastructure.

The conversation underscored just how deeply embedded data centres are in modern life. Without them, everyday services such as streaming, banking and travel booking would grind to a halt. Nor would we see the kind of breakthroughs in research, healthcare or AI that are shaping our collective future.

The UK is already home to a thriving data centre ecosystem. At Slough Trading Estate, Europe’s largest data centre cluster, more than 30 centres are helping to power the digital economy. And with the UK Government now recognising data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, there is a clear national ambition to support their growth, particularly in line with AI development and digital transformation.

Economic projections reinforce this opportunity. According to TechUK’s 2024 ‘Foundations For The Future’ report, data centres currently contribute £4.7 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually to the UK economy and support over 43,500 highly skilled jobs. With targeted investment and policy support, this figure could rise to £44 billion in GVA by 2035, with tens of thousands more jobs in both digital infrastructure and the construction supply chain.

As the discussion highlighted, this growth is being fuelled by increasingly complex customer demands, often tied to long-term digital transformation journeys and AI workloads. But with expansion comes challenge. Several panellists emphasised that issues around planning, power, land valuation and community perception risk slowing the sector’s progress.

Planning frameworks need to evolve. Too often, local authorities assess data centres using metrics better suited to logistics or retail. A focus solely on jobs per square foot, for example, fails to capture the broader community benefits data centres bring, from apprenticeships and technical training to procurement opportunities and local economic uplift. Industry adjacent supply chains are often significant for local communities. 

In addition, the sector must continue addressing its sustainability profile. Power consumption remains a key challenge, but innovations are already improving efficiency. Operators are prioritising low-carbon energy sources, advanced cooling techniques and smarter design to reduce environmental impact, not just as a regulatory necessity but as a core part of good business practice.

A final, but no less urgent, theme is talent. The data centre workforce is ageing, and younger generations are largely unaware of the opportunities the sector presents. If the industry is to meet future demand, it must invest in outreach, education and visibility, showcasing the wide variety of high-tech, high-impact careers available.

In short, data centres are no longer niche infrastructure, they are central to our everyday lives and the future of the UK economy.

To remain globally competitive, we must treat them accordingly. That means ensuring consistent planning policies, realistic land valuations and access to sustainable power. It means helping local authorities and communities understand the benefits. And it means acknowledging, rather than ignoring, the critical role these facilities play in how we live, work and connect.

Data centres don’t just support the internet, they support our lives. And it’s time we started remembering this.