UK Government to Decide on £9.3B Data Center at Former Quarry as Global Regulatory Push Intensifies

The UK government will decide whether to approve a £9.3 billion ($12.3 billion) data center campus planned for a former quarry in Bedfordshire, after designating the project a development of national significance. Real estate firm Questpit wants to build the Quest Park Data Center on a 143-acre site at Ampthill Road, Stewartby, five miles south of Bedford.

The project would deliver four data center buildings with a total of 720MW of IT capacity, powered by an on-site natural gas generation plant. Questpit requested a Development Consent Order (DCO) in April, which moves the decision from local planners to Stephen Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government granted the DCO but noted that Questpit had not carried out statutory-level consultation, meaning further engagement is required before a final decision.

Global regulatory momentum builds

The UK move comes as governments worldwide grapple with data center grid demands. In the United States, a Republican senator has introduced a bill to impose federal rules on data center grid connections, giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction over large load connections. The bill targets the growing strain data centers place on power grids, a concern echoed in the UK and elsewhere.

• Questpit's campus would include a STEM training center and offices, replacing a stalled film studio project after Verb Creative Holdings went out of business.
• The site is near three major gas pipelines, supporting the planned gas generation plant.
• In Saudi Arabia, DataVolt plans a 12MW data center in Uzbekistan backed by $150 million in foreign investment.
• Critical Energy raised $22 million to develop modular geothermal plants targeting data centers, aiming to provide low-carbon power alternatives.
• Google appointed Aris Karcanias as its new head of data center energy and infrastructure for EMEA, signaling continued investment in the region.

Power and policy challenges ahead

The Quest Park project underscores the tension between data center growth and energy infrastructure. Natural gas generation, while reliable, faces scrutiny as governments push for net-zero targets. The UK's DCO process is designed to speed up major infrastructure, but the requirement for further consultation could delay the project. Questpit must now demonstrate community and stakeholder engagement before the Secretary of State rules.

Meanwhile, the US bill and Saudi investment highlight a fragmented global approach. The US seeks federal oversight to manage grid strain, while Saudi Arabia's DataVolt expands into Central Asia, tapping new markets. Critical Energy's geothermal push offers a potential low-carbon solution, but remains nascent. Google's EMEA appointment suggests hyperscalers are preparing for tighter regulation and energy constraints. The coming months will test whether governments can balance data center demand with grid reliability and climate goals.