The government is pushing ahead with AI Growth Zones without national-level public consultation, while businesses dominate access to ministers and senior officials and communities and environmental groups are shut out.
Our new report, Zoned Out, finds that between July 2024 and June 2026:
- 84% of ministerial stakeholder meetings on data centres were with businesses or private-sector trade associations.
- Ministers met just two community groups – and both after the government had already decided to designate their areas as AI Growth Zones.
- Ministers, permanent secretaries, and directors general met no environmental NGOs.
- Permanent secretaries and directors general held no meetings with community groups.
- AI companies hired 38 ministers and senior civil servants.
Communities have been excluded from decisions
The government has undertaken no national-level public consultation on AI Growth Zones or AI data centres more broadly. There were also no independent consultations with local communities where AI Growth Zones were selected.
Local councils themselves appear to have had little engagement with the government. Ministers, permanent secretaries, and directors general held just one meeting with local authorities before designating their areas as AI Growth Zones.
Environmental risks are not being taken seriously enough
Data centres raise significant environmental concerns, including the risk that they will consume large amounts of water and lead to higher emissions. Our report finds that the government does not appear to be taking these risks as seriously as it should.
There are no environmental groups on the government’s Sustainability Working Group, which met only once in the 17 months from its establishment in January 2025 to July 2026. Almost two years after announcing its AI Growth Zone policy, the government has yet to release national-level environmental and social impact assessments.
Germany, Canada, and Ireland have all conducted significant public consultations on their national data centre strategies, leading to more robust environmental requirements.
Our recommendations
Spotlight on Corruption is calling for a pause on new AI Growth Zones and AI data centres until the government establishes strict criteria for their development.
Our report recommends that the government:
- Commit to equitable access to decision-makers on AI policy. Publish stakeholder engagement plans, meet public-interest groups such as community and environmental groups alongside industry representatives, and adopt innovative participation mechanisms to inform AI policy and data centre strategy.
- Be far more transparent about the development of AI policy. Immediately publish environmental and social impact assessments for the AI Growth Zone strategy and each AI Growth Zone, and publish detailed monthly data on meetings with AI companies, especially those with special advisers.
- Ensure far greater accountability for AI policy. Place a moratorium on new data centres until stringent regulations are in place, require data centres to meet high environmental standards and report on emissions, electricity, and water use, and require the financial sector to report annually on the impact of its AI adoption.
