Tech firms warn UK ministers they have 12 months to stop US-style publ

An industry coalition including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Cisco warned British ministers that the government has roughly 12 months to secure public consent before US-style protests and moratoriums derail massive data center construction.

Chaired by businessman Steve Rigby, the taskforce proposed a compact giving local councils 100% of the business rates generated by new data centers, along with a mandatory 1.5% community benefit fund to support local schools and infrastructure.

Campaign groups like PauseAI UK criticized the proposal, arguing that community funds are designed to buy off local opposition. New server facilities are already facing pushback in Acton and Newport over heavy grid and water usage.