OpenAI and Nvidia are set to invest billions in UK data centres, signalling a major shift in the country’s AI sector and strengthening transatlantic tech ties amid geopolitical and economic developments.
Two of the world’s foremost technology companies, OpenAI and Nvidia, are poised to make a landmark investment in the UK’s data centre landscape, signalling a major boost to the country’s AI infrastructure ambitions. The announcement is expected to coincide with an upcoming visit by former US President Donald Trump to the UK, where leaders from both firms, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, will participate as part of a broader delegation.
According to reports, OpenAI and Nvidia plan to collaborate closely with London-based startup Nscale Global Holdings in this venture. Despite being operational for less than two years, Nscale has ambitions to raise billions of dollars in debt and equity to fuel the expansion of data centres across the UK and Europe. Nscale has already committed approximately $2.5 billion (£1.8 billion) over the next three years to develop such facilities, including the recent acquisition of a site in Loughton, Essex. This site is expected to house up to 45,000 of Nvidia’s next-generation GB200 superchips, a clear indication of the scale and technical sophistication involved.
The investment marks a significant shift in the UK’s data centre sector, which, while growing rapidly—£14 billion was committed to new projects in the first half of 2024 alone according to Cushman & Wakefield data—has so far seen limited direct investments from major US AI firms. This move by OpenAI and Nvidia thus represents a pivotal moment, aligning the UK more closely with global AI infrastructure trends.
This development also fits within a wider strategic context. The partnership aims not just to build capacity but to foster “sovereign” AI infrastructure among US allies, a response to emerging global geopolitical challenges in technology. The UK government is reportedly set to support this initiative by providing crucial energy resources, while OpenAI and Nvidia contribute cutting-edge AI tools and hardware. Such collaboration mirrors similar sovereign infrastructure efforts already underway in regions like the Gulf and the European Union. Nvidia itself has projected that sovereign-related deals could generate over $20 billion in revenue in 2025 alone, underscoring the financial and strategic importance of such ventures.
Further background suggests that these new data centre developments may integrate with OpenAI’s broader Stargate initiative, a colossal global data centre investment programme valued at up to $500 billion and backed by major financiers such as Oracle and Japan’s SoftBank. The Stargate project has already seen OpenAI securing massive cloud computing power leases, including a $30 billion annual contract with Oracle to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of computing capacity. While the UK facilities’ precise link to Stargate remains unconfirmed, parallels can be drawn with OpenAI’s ongoing work on a similar high-powered data centre in Norway, which also involves Nscale and aims to deploy 100,000 Nvidia GPUs powered entirely by renewable energy.
Significantly, this AI-driven infrastructure expansion comes amid increasing investments in the UK data centre sector by other major players. For example, the US private equity firm Blackstone recently confirmed a £10 billion ($13.3 billion) investment for a new AI data centre project in northeast England, which promises to deliver thousands of jobs and revitalise previously underused industrial land. This cluster of investments highlights a surge in confidence toward the UK as a competitive location for digital infrastructure, driven by both commercial opportunity and strategic considerations.
While Nvidia and OpenAI have yet to publicly comment on the plans, and other involved parties remain silent for now, these developments underscore the UK’s growing role in the global AI infrastructure ecosystem. The announced investments are expected to deepen transatlantic ties in technology, foster local economic growth, and position the UK as a key hub for next-generation AI powered by advanced computing hardware.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being 12 September 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The announcement is expected to coincide with an upcoming visit by former US President Donald Trump to the UK, where leaders from both firms, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, will participate as part of a broader delegation. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/openai-nvidia-set-announce-uk-data-center-investments-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-09-12/?utm_source=openai)) The report is corroborated by other reputable outlets, including Reuters and the Financial Times. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/openai-nvidia-set-announce-uk-data-center-investments-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-09-12/?utm_source=openai)) No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data and is not recycled from older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the narrative, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Bisnow, a reputable organisation known for its coverage of real estate and infrastructure developments. The report is corroborated by other reputable outlets, including Reuters and the Financial Times. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/openai-nvidia-set-announce-uk-data-center-investments-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-09-12/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible and align with recent developments in AI infrastructure investments. The report is corroborated by other reputable outlets, including Reuters and the Financial Times. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/openai-nvidia-set-announce-uk-data-center-investments-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-09-12/?utm_source=openai)) The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate and official communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, original, and corroborated by reputable sources, with no significant credibility risks identified.
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