AI Growth Zones confirmed for North Wales: thousands of jobs, accelerated planning, and up to £100 billion in investment
The government has confirmed a new AI Growth Zone in North Wales, backed by planning and energy reforms designed to move projects from paper to delivery. The package aims to create thousands of jobs locally, speed up approvals, and give sites the grid access they need to operate at scale.
For government teams, this is about execution: coordinating planning, grid, skills, and procurement so communities see the benefits quickly and consistently.
What's new
- New AI Growth Zone for North Wales spanning Prosperity Parc (Anglesey) and Trawsfynydd (Gwynedd), positioned alongside the UK's first small modular reactor (SMR) at Wylfa.
- 3,450 jobs expected from the AI Growth Zone, with nearly 6,500 total new roles in the area when combined with the SMR project. The SMR project will deliver around 3,000 jobs at peak construction.
- Up to £100 billion of additional investment enabled through reforms that accelerate delivery, including an estimated additional 4GW of capacity.
- Each AI Growth Zone will receive £5 million locally for business adoption and skills to boost regional R&D and help firms grow from start-up to scale-up.
- Planning approval timelines for AI infrastructure cut from over 4 years to as little as 2, backed by a dedicated AI planning team funded with £4.5 million.
- Priority grid access for AI Growth Zones, with options for developers to build their own high-voltage lines and substations to reduce wait times and costs.
- Targeted electricity bill discounts for data centres located in areas that ease pressure on the network.
Why North Wales
The site is built to blend AI infrastructure with next-generation energy. With SMRs planned at Wylfa-an initial project of 3 reactors, with potential for up to 8-North Wales can pair reliable low-carbon power with AI compute needs. The ambition is for Wylfa's SMRs to supply the grid from the mid-2030s.
The AI Growth Zone is led by a consortium including Stena Line, Isle of Anglesey County Council, and Bangor University-anchoring delivery in local capability while attracting national and global partners.
What leaders said
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer: "We said we'd make AI work for Britain - and now we're putting our money where our mouth is. These Growth Zones aren't an abstract conception; they're about thousands of jobs, real investment, and change for communities that have been short-changed for too long."
Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology: "We will make sure people have the skills they need so they can fully realise the opportunities that AI presents-helping to nurture the tech leaders of tomorrow and supporting our economy with a rich pool of talent."
Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales: "North Wales is already home to a thriving and growing tech industry, and this announcement will supercharge the sector, delivering over 3,000 good jobs and bringing in millions in investment."
What this means for government delivery
- Planning teams: Use the new priority guidance for AI infrastructure. Engage early with the AI planning team to compress timelines and align on environmental, design, and community requirements.
- Energy and grid leads: Prioritise connections for the zone. Where feasible, support developer-led high-voltage lines and substations. Target siting that reduces network strain to qualify for discounted electricity rates.
- Local growth and skills units: Deploy the £5 million per zone into targeted AI adoption, digital upgrades for SMEs, and practical training aligned to data centre operations, AI engineering, cybersecurity, and facilities management.
- Procurement and commercial teams: Structure frameworks that reward timely delivery, energy efficiency, and local job creation. Prepare for phased build-out to match grid availability and skills pipelines.
- Public service innovation leads: Plan regional AI adoption hubs tied to frontline services (health, transport, planning). Focus on safe deployment, data governance, and measurable outcomes.
- Community outcomes: Lock in local benefits early-transport access, apprenticeships, supplier development, and environmental standards. Maintain clear, regular engagement with residents and businesses.
Delivery and next steps
An investment partner is being secured to deliver the North Wales site, with construction to start once a deal is confirmed in the coming months. Priority access to the grid will support staged commissioning as capacity comes online.
Three AI Growth Zone sites have been announced since the AI Opportunities Action Plan launched, with further announcements expected. The objective is simple: move faster, create jobs, and make AI infrastructure work for people and places.
Stakeholder views
Industry leaders welcomed the focus on infrastructure and delivery. Senior voices from Alphabet/Google, Arm, and ElevenLabs highlighted the importance of data centres, efficient compute, and the right local conditions for AI companies to grow in the UK.
Useful resources
- National Grid ESO - electricity transmission connections
- Complete AI Training - practical AI courses by job role
Your membership also unlocks:
