Microsoft / Nscale Loughton AI Campus (Essex), Microsoft deal terminated
CGreater London / Thames Valley, UK · GB · Microsoft Corporation
CancelledExplicit AI InfrastructureUnder Review
Environment
Water Stress
lowB
WRI Aqueduct 4.0, 2023, 2023
Aquifer Stress
Not DisclosedND
Grid Carbon Intensity
233 gCO₂/kWhA
IEA Electricity Information 2022, United Kingdom, 2022
Drought Risk
low
European Drought Observatory, 2023
Facility
CompanyMicrosoft Corporation
OperatorNscale (Microsoft was the planned anchor tenant)
CategoryExplicit AI Infrastructure
StatusCancelled
Capacity
Not DisclosedND
Microsoft was the reported anchor customer (about 23,000 Nvidia chips) for Nscale's data centre at Loughton, Essex. Microsoft terminated that agreement, reported on 2026-10-18; Nscale says it remains committed to the site and is pursuing alternative power.
Location
51.6410, 0.0580 · GB
Campus AreaApproximate town-centre coordinates for Loughton, Essex. Not site-surveyed.
RegionGreater London / Thames Valley, UK
Research statusUnder Review
Evidence (2 sources)
Journalism2026-10-18
Project status as of 2026-10-26
Microsoft pulls out of UK data center deal with Nscale, Telegraph reports (search-result summary: Microsoft recently terminated its agreement for the Loughton, Essex data center; grid power not expected until the 2030s).
Journalism2026-10-18
Project status as of 2026-10-26
Microsoft Terminates Data Center Deal with Nscale in Essex (search-result headline; content not opened).
Researcher Notes
Added 2026-10-26 from online research; coordinates are town-level unless noted.