# Brookfield and Drax plan £20 billion Yorkshire data center

> The partners are targeting more than 1 gigawatt of capacity at Drax Power Station, but the first phase still needs approvals and a customer.

Oossa · 2026-11-03 · https://oossa.com/en/brookfield-and-drax-plan-20-billion-yorkshire-data-center

Brookfield, Drax Group and Brookfield’s AI infrastructure platform Radiant have agreed to develop a data center at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire. The project aims to reach more than 1 gigawatt of capacity across several phases. Brookfield estimates the full investment, including computer chips, could exceed £20 billion ($26.8 billion); the first phase is expected to involve £2.5 billion.

The first phase would provide up to 100 megawatts and target commercial operations from the first quarter of 2028. Drax says it is preparing a planning application, with a public consultation expected to begin in November 2026. Construction also depends on planning, regulatory and network approvals, an acceptable tenant, commercial agreements and final investment decisions by the partners.

Drax shares rose 8.2% in early trading after the announcement, CNBC reported.

## How the project could grow

The partners describe a second phase of up to 500 megawatts between 2028 and 2031, followed by further capacity after 2031. These are ambitions, not confirmed construction plans. Drax says the first phase would take power directly from the grid. Later phases could use Drax’s generation to supply a data center directly, subject to approvals and agreements.

The Drax site has about 4 gigawatts of grid access and 2.6 gigawatts of active dispatchable generation, according to the company. Drax says the later-stage power arrangement would require consent, including for up to 500 megawatts of capacity under its agreement with the UK government. It says the power station’s role in energy security and supplying the grid would remain unchanged.

## What still needs to happen

The partnership draws on a Brookfield-Qai AI infrastructure joint venture announced in 2025, Drax says. Radiant is expected to lead the data center’s design and customer arrangements, while Drax will handle land, power integration and planning. Radiant says the facility could give British researchers, startups and businesses access to computing capacity in the UK; no customers have been named.

Drax also says the partners expect to create a voluntary community benefits fund in consultation with nearby communities. The company says the project could protect hundreds of existing jobs and create new direct and indirect jobs, but those outcomes depend on the development proceeding.

## The facts

- The project targets more than 1 gigawatt of data center capacity at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
- Phase 1 targets up to 100 megawatts and commercial operations from the first quarter of 2028.
- Brookfield estimates total potential investment, including semiconductors, could exceed £20 billion, with £2.5 billion for Phase 1.
- Drax says its site has about 4 gigawatts of grid access and 2.6 gigawatts of active dispatchable generation.
- Drax shares rose 8.2% in early trading, CNBC reported.

## Why it matters

For Yorkshire residents, the proposal could bring data-center construction, jobs and a community fund, but none of those benefits is secured until approvals and investment decisions are made. For UK researchers and businesses, Radiant says the site could provide local access to computing capacity; the partners have not named customers or confirmed when later phases would proceed.

## Sources & references

1. [Brookfield targets $27 billion AI data center at power station. Energy firm Drax surges 8%](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/03/brookfield-ai-data-center-yorkshire-drax.html) – CNBC, 2026-11-03
2. [Drax Group plc](https://www.drax.com/news/strategic-partnership-for-gw-scale-data-centre/?utm_source=openai) – Drax Group plc

Last updated: 2026-11-03