Written questions

Land: Data Centres

2026-07-09 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · 17932 · Official question

James McMurdock

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cumulative loss of agricultural land resulting from data centre developments.

Answer

The expansion of AI infrastructure is critical to the UK's long-term economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. Government is working with industry to improve understanding of the demand for agricultural land. National planning policy gives ...