Prioritising AI data centres could block new homes, builders warn

In the UK, there's a big demand for electricity. New AI data centres need a lot of power, and they're joining a long queue to get connected to the electricity grid. This queue is also for other important things, like new hospitals and factories. Because AI centres use so much power, the queue is getting very long. The government wants to help projects that create jobs and help the economy. They're thinking about letting these projects, like AI centres, jump the queue and get electricity sooner. However, builders are worried. They say that if AI centres get priority, it could block new homes from being built. This could create a moratorium on building new houses. The government will consult about how to prioritize important projects. Some projects in the queue are speculative; they might not even be real. The government wants to make sure that projects that will really help the economy don't get blocked by these speculative projects.