Microsoft has announced that it will build a 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.
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.
Microsoft currently has two data centres in the UK; one in London and one in Cardiff. In November 2023, 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 more than 20,000 advanced graphics processing units 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.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the investment a "turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK".