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Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 7 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Thursday, 17 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Data Centres: Water

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with local planning authorities on the water requirements of proposed AI-capable data centres.

Answer

A recent report by the Water Research Centre concluded that existing data centres in England account for just 0.2% of current non-household demand. As the sector grows, Defra is working across government and with the Environment Agency to better understand this expected growth and reduce its impact, including by supporting the rollout of smart meters to improve the evidence base on water us in the non-household market.

The Government expects data centre developers to work closely with water companies to secure sustainable supplies and explore alternative water sources, such as collected rainwater, where suitable.

Data centre proposals are considered through the planning system, and local planning authorities take account of relevant environmental impacts. Prospective AI Growth Zone sites must demonstrate sufficient access to water to support at least 500MW of AI infrastructure through written confirmation from the relevant water supplier.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
27761
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Planning authorities Water Artificial intelligence Data centres
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk