Wales is set to play a key role in the UK’s artificial intelligence strategy, with the UK Government confirming plans to establish an AI Growth Zone in the country—bringing with it the potential for billions in investment and thousands of new jobs.
The announcement forms part of the UK’s wider AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to expand national computing capacity, attract private sector investment, and accelerate the rollout of AI-powered infrastructure.
While exact locations have yet to be confirmed, Bridgend has been widely reported as the likely site for one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses, with Vantage Data Centers expected to lead a £12 billion UK-wide investment that includes a major Welsh footprint2.
The UK Government says the new AI Growth Zones will act as “hotbeds” for innovation, fast-tracking planning for data centres and unlocking access to high-capacity power connections. These zones are designed to support breakthroughs in healthcare, climate science, and public service delivery.
“AI is this generation’s next great industrial leap,” said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, referencing Wales’s historic role in the industrial revolution. “These Growth Zones will revitalise communities, unlock fresh investment and create new opportunities for those that have been left out in the cold for too long.”
The government’s Compute Roadmap, also published this week, sets out plans to increase the UK’s AI processing power twenty-fold by 2030. That includes a new national supercomputer and expanded AI Research Resource, capable of performing calculations that would take a billion people over 13,000 years to complete.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the investment was a “vote of confidence” in the Welsh economy and its growing tech sector.
“Wales is already home to a thriving and growing tech industry, and this investment in at least one AI Growth Zone is testament to the skills and potential of our workforce.”
The Welsh Government has also welcomed the announcement, with First Minister Eluned Morgan describing it as a “huge boost in confidence for industry in Wales”. A review is now underway to explore how Wales can capitalise on AI opportunities and ensure the infrastructure, skills and data are in place to support long-term growth.
The former Ford factory site in Bridgend is expected to be a key location, with Vantage Data Centers planning a 10-building campus that could create over 11,500 jobs across the UK.
Further details on site selection and delivery timelines are expected later this year, following the UK Government’s expression of interest process.
