Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department hold on plans for data centres to be built in areas supplied by the new reservoir announced for (a) East Anglia and (b) Lincolnshire.

The Government does not routinely track individual plans for data centre developments. Water companies have no obligation to approve water for non-domestic uses, such as for data centres. Data centres may therefore be refused or restricted a supply connection if there are not sufficient water resources available. We encourage data centre developers to consider use of non-potable water, to embed water efficiency or water reuse in their design, and contact their proposed water and wastewater supplier early in the planning process to understand and plan for any potential water restrictions.