Google has announced a massive $6.8 billion investment in the UK, just days before Donald Trump’s state visit, where more than $10 billion in US-UK trade deals are expected to be revealed.
A new data centre outside London
A key part of Google’s plan is a new data centre in Waltham Cross, about an hour north of London. The facility will support the growing demand for Google Cloud, AI tools, Search, Maps, and Workspace. To minimize its environmental impact, the centre will use air-cooling instead of water and recycle excess heat to nearby homes and businesses.
A boost of confidence for the UK economy
UK finance minister Rachel Reeves hailed the investment as “a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy and the strength of our partnership with the US.” Google expects the project to support over 8,000 jobs a year across British businesses. For Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which has made private sector investment central to its growth strategy, this announcement lands at just the right time.
Strengthening US-UK ties
Trump’s visit is expected to shine a spotlight on closer economic cooperation between the two countries. The Google deal fits neatly into this narrative, signaling strong American corporate commitment to Britain.
Energy partnership with Shell
Alongside the data centre, Google struck a deal with Shell to help stabilize the power grid and accelerate the UK’s transition to cleaner energy. The company says its UK operations are on track to run on 95% carbon-free energy by 2026.
Why it matters
This isn’t just another tech expansion. The timing highlights Google’s ambitions in AI and cloud services, while also serving as a diplomatic win for the UK. For London, it’s both a tech milestone and a political boost—a reminder that Britain can still attract world-class investment at a critical moment. Photo by. Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States, Wikimedia commons.