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AI growth zones

AI Growth Zones (AIGZs): four UK-designated areas (north Wales, south Wales, Lanarkshire, north-east England) where DSIT is accelerating planning and grid access for AI data centres and related energy infrastructure. Lead policy framework: Delivering AI Growth Zones (Command Paper CP 1440, Nov 2025) plus the AI Opportunities Action Plan (Jan 2025) and the NSIP Amendment Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/13).

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2026

14 events
8 May 2026 | Consultation outcome Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy

Why linked: Invest 2035 industrial strategy consultation outcome — the consultation that produced the Modern Industrial Strategy framing CP 1440 builds on.

The industrial strategy is the UK government’s proposed 10-year plan for the economy. It aims to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high-growth sectors and drive long-term economic growth. We want to hear your views …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy
+2 more
↓ Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy (PDF versi… (66pp) ↓ Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy – consulta… (75pp)
8 May 2026 | Consultation (open) Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy

Why linked: Invest 2035 green paper names digital and technologies as a growth-driving sector and provides the Industrial Strategy framing CP 1440 builds on.

Invest 2035 green paper names digital and technologies as a growth-driving sector and provides the Industrial Strategy framing CP 1440 builds on.

In response to: Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
26 Mar 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Why linked: Matched expansion phrase: Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

Part 2 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5) (“the Act”), as amended by Schedule 7 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), established a system of local development planning in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
12 Mar 2026 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Context · primary home: Electricity Market Arrangemen… linked evidence

Accelerating electricity network connections for strategic demand

Why linked: Filled the "Energy infrastructure and grid reinforcement plans for designated zones" gap via web research

We're seeking views on proposals to amend the connections process to address speculation and prioritise future capacity for strategic demand, including data centres.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Accelerating electricity network connections fo… (48pp)
+1 more
↓ Accelerating electricity network connections for strategic …
9 Mar 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026

Why linked: The Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/223) is the s.165A Energy Act 2023 hook NESO uses to prioritise AIGZ projects via the reservation/reallocation mechanism in CP 1440 §2.

Under section 165A(1) of the Energy Act 2023 (“the 2023 Act”) the Independent System Operator and Planner (“ISOP”) must have regard to those plans or documents designated as strategic plans under section 165A(2) (“designated strategic plans”) when carrying out functions …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
12 Feb 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) (Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026

Why linked: Matched expansion phrase: Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) Regulations 2009 (“the 2009 Regulations”) and the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (“the 2015 Order”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Jan 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Infrastructure Planning (Business or Commercial Projects) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Why linked: NSIP (Business or Commercial Projects) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — SI 2026/13 (8 Jan 2026)

These Regulations amend the Infrastructure Planning (Business or Commercial Projects) Regulations 2013 to add data centres to the prescribed description of business or commercial projects (or proposed projects) for the purposes of section 35(2)(a)(ii) of the Planning Act 2008 (“the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

12 events
21 Oct 2025 | Consultation (open) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked direct

AI Growth Lab: Call for Evidence

Why linked: AI Growth Lab Call for Evidence (Oct 2025) — the underlying DSIT consultation that BSCC and SRA responded to on this thread.

We are seeking evidence on a pioneering cross-economy sandbox, that would oversee the deployment of AI-enabled products and services that current regulation hinders. The AI Growth Lab would support growth and responsible AI innovation by making targeted regulatory modifications under …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 Oct 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

Written Ministerial Statement: National Infrastructure Planning — Data Centres (HCWS966)

Why linked: Written Ministerial Statement HCWS966 (October 2025) laying the draft Infrastructure Planning (Business or Commercial Projects) (Amendment) Regulations — directly grounds the procedural sequence leading to SI 2026/13.

I have today laid the draft Infrastructure Planning (Business or Commercial Projects) (Amendment) Regulations in Parliament… to provide that data centres are prescribed projects capable of being directed into the NSIP consenting regime.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
18 Sep 2025 | Policy paper Ministry of Defence Context · primary home: Defence Investment linked direct

Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Making Defence an Engine for Growth

Why linked: Matched expansion phrase: Modern Industrial Strategy

The defence sector plan of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Making Defenc… (112pp)
+2 more
↓ Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 - two-page summary (2pp) ↓ Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 - two-page summary (Welsh) (2pp)
5 Aug 2025 | Policy paper Department for Business and Trade Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked direct

Digital and Technologies Sector Plan

Why linked: Digital and Technologies Sector Plan (Aug 2025) is the sector plan operationalising AI infrastructure commitments that AIGZs deliver.

The UK's Plan to drive growth in the digital and technologies sector and unlock growth in the technologies of the future as part of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Digital and Technologies Sector Plan (accessibl… (74pp)

2024

2 events
14 Oct 2024 | Policy paper Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Office for Investment Ofgem Planning Inspectorate Regulatory Policy Committee Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Solicitors Regulation Authority UK Export Finance evidence

Invest 2035 – Investor Roadmap and Strategy Document

Why linked: Filled the "Invest 2035 consultation and strategy documents" gap via web research

A gov.uk publication setting out the UK's pitch to investors and a roadmap for how the industrial strategy will secure investment and kickstart growth across the country, published October 2024 alongside the Green Paper.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2023

1 event
14 Feb 2023 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (DMPO) (Amendment) Order 2023 — predecessor amendment to the DMPO regime that underpins the planning machinery CP 1440 reforms build on.

This Order amends the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/595 “the 2015 Orders”) to add a new statutory consultee Active Travel England, into the Table in Schedule 4.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK