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The move is a huge investment in the North of England, and will create the UK’s third Microsoft datacentre
Microsoft has announced that it will build a huge data centre on the outskirts of Leeds, on a site costing £106.6 million.
The deal was announced by Rotherham based property development group Harworth, who said the deal was the largest in its history.
The hyperscale data centre site will be comprised of two plots, one of 27 acres valued at £52.9 million, and one of 21 acres valued at £52.2 million. The development company has said the site will bring around £4 billion to the local economy and create many jobs.
Not many additional details, such as completion dates, were disclosed.
Microsoft currently has two data centres in operation in the UK; one in London and one in Cardiff. Back in November, the company announced an investment of £2.5 billion in expanding its next-generation AI data centre infrastructure across the UK.
The plan includes bringing over 20,000 advanced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to its sites in London and Cardiff by 2026, which are essential for machine learning and AI model development. The investment aims to meet the growing demand for efficient, scalable, and sustainable AI-specific compute power, positioning the UK as a hub for cutting-edge technology. The investment is the company’s largest in its 40-year history in the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the investment a “turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK.”
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