Drax and Brookfield plan AI data center worth over £20 billion

Nov 3, 2026
Drax, Brookfield and Radiant plan an AI data center at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, with total investment estimated at more than £20 billion.

Drax Group has signed an agreement with Brookfield Asset Management and its AI infrastructure platform Radiant to develop an AI data center at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, CNBC reports. Brookfield estimates total investment, including semiconductors, could exceed £20 billion ($26.8 billion). Drax shares rose 8.2% in early London trading.

The first phase targets up to 100 MW from the first quarter of 2028, with an initial investment of £2.5 billion. More capacity would follow between 2028 and 2031, and the partners aim for about 1 GW at the site over time, according to DCD.

The first phase still depends on planning, regulatory and grid approvals and on finding a tenant. The plan comes after the UK government rejected an AI Growth Zone bid for a data center at the same site. Brookfield called the project "a critical piece of sovereign AI."

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