OpenAI's UK 'Stargate' Data Center Plans in Doubt After Investigation Reveals Lack of Site Visits and Uncommitted Funding

OpenAI's planned multibillion-pound data center project in the UK, known as Stargate UK, has been paused amid regulatory and energy cost concerns, according to an investigation by the Guardian. The project, which was announced in September 2025, was touted as a major investment in UK AI infrastructure, but the Guardian's findings raise serious questions about its substance.

A key finding from the Guardian's investigation, as reported by SiliconReport, is that OpenAI and its partner Nscale never visited the primary Cobalt Park site or filed planning applications before the project was paused. The revelation casts doubt on the depth of the companies' commitment to the UK location.

SiliconReportOpenAI's Stargate UK Project Questioned After Partners Failed to Visit Key Site

"OpenAI and Nscale never visited the primary Cobalt Park site or filed planning applications before the project was paused."

This lack of site engagement is particularly striking given the scale of the investment the UK government had highlighted. The Guardian reports that of the £30 billion in investment touted, £20 billion appears to have been hypothetical, meaning it was not backed by concrete plans or committed funds.

"£20bn of the £30bn in investment touted by the UK government appears to have been hypothetical."

theguardian.comOpenAI's Stargate UK datacentre project paused; £20bn of £30bn investment appears hypothetical, Guardian finds

The investigation underscores the gap between the government's public announcements and the actual progress of the Stargate UK project. While the UK has sought to position itself as a leading destination for AI data centers, the pause and the questionable investment figures suggest that high energy costs and regulatory hurdles remain significant barriers. The future of the project remains uncertain, with no timeline for when or if it will resume.