“People really only care about political stuff that they see as impacting their day-to-day lives,” said Chris Annous, a senior associate at the polling agency and think tank More in Common. “Where these data centers aren't being built, I don't see them necessarily as being a big issue. But where they are going to be built, they probably will be … a top issue for people voting.” 

Research from More in Common, conducted in August, found only the prospect of a nearby nuclear power plant polled worse than an AI data center — which was viewed more negatively than a solar farm, onshore wind farm, gas power plant or waste facility.  

The political risk, Annous added, comes if people feel data centers are being plonked on them without feeling any benefits in return — and that is where the U.S. elections are relevant. “That can be corrosive in a broader sense because as you've seen in politics, you've seen in America, people really feel like they are the last to get looked after,” he said.  

Back in the U.K. — where the governing Labour party has pledged a relentless focus on cost-of-living worries — MPs are also concerned major data center builds and other projects could overwhelm communities already feeling the squeeze. 

“People in our country have had to tighten their belts and struggle to stretch the pound for so long,” said Labour MP Rachael Maskell. “I think we need to stabilize people's security before we kind of just leap forward into another huge expenditure and demand on our very fragile infrastructure.” 

Setting the rules 

U.K. ministers know they have to address some of these worries.  Alongside existing regulations, the government last month published a list of requirements which developers are “encouraged” to meet. The so-called Data Centre Covenant includes voluntary agreements that developers cover their own energy costs, invest in local communities and minimize water use.