Planning applications for new data centre developments in England doubled between 2024 and 2025, according to research undertaken by data cabling and electrical services business 2580 Group.
The company submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to councils across the country, asking how many planning applications they had received for data centre developments, including schemes classified as sui generis or otherwise identified as data centres, and how many of those applications had been approved.
The 50 councils that responded to the FOI request, recorded 84 data centre planning applications, of which 54 were approved. In 2023, there were nine data centre planning applications and this rose to 13 in 2024, with 26 applications recorded in 2025.
Michael Scott, director of 2580 Group, said: “Data centres are a critical part of our national infrastructure. These sites provide the power and capacity needed to run the digital tools that businesses and consumers now rely on every day, from the internet and apps like Instagram and Facebook to CRMs and Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Claude. As demand grows, developers, investors and councils will need to think carefully about where new data centres are built and how they are delivered.
“For businesses like ours, this growth creates a real opportunity to support clients across planning, site strategy, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure delivery and commercial development. There’s a significant amount of work across the supply chain, especially for cabling and infrastructure providers. But it’s important to remember that data centres are highly technical environments with strict standards. Businesses need the right experience, proper training and a clear understanding of what’s required. Without that, it can be difficult to secure work.
“The businesses that invest in training, take a professional approach and deliver consistent quality are the ones that will win work and keep it. Once you build that reputation, there’s a strong opportunity for repeat projects, but getting to that point takes time. We expect this trend to continue as demand for data keeps growing. More businesses will enter the market, but long-term success will come down to quality and reliability. It’s not just about being there at the right time, it’s about being able to deliver.”
