Data centres should be built as civic assets to balance AI

Bentley Systems has called for data centres to be designed and managed as long-term civic infrastructure, not standalone industrial assets. The comments come as global demand for digital services intensifies and new construction collides with energy, supply chain and community constraints.

In the UK and Europe, surging investment in AI and cloud computing is driving a rapid build-out of data centre capacity. Consultants and infrastructure specialists warn that physical bottlenecks, from grid access to skilled labour, are reshaping how and where facilities can be developed.

Matthew Rose, managing director at procurement consultancy Inverto London, said many of the constraints facing hyperscale projects now sit outside traditional IT planning. He pointed to growing pressure on power networks, construction markets and supply chains as developers race to meet Big Tech demand.

Energy access remains one of the biggest hurdles. Large data campuses draw far more power than commercial properties and compete with other sectors for scarce grid connections. In several European markets, network operators have paused new connections in some locations because of capacity limits and long lead times for grid reinforcement.

As a result, operators now treat energy availability as a primary factor in site selection. The shift reflects both the scale of consumption and the volatility of wholesale prices, which shape long-term operating economics.

Constraints extend beyond power. Developers also report tight conditions in engineering, procurement and construction services, as well as in the specialist trades needed for complex mechanical and electrical systems. Shortages in engineering talent, EPC contractors and critical raw materials are delaying projects and pushing up costs.

Supply chain risk is another concern. Heavy dependence on a small group of suppliers, and on materials from geopolitically sensitive regions, can disrupt schedules for large capital projects. These vulnerabilities now rank high on the agenda for operators and investors planning multi-billion-dollar build programmes.

Rose argues that conventional procurement strategies, which focus heavily on unit price, no longer match the risk profile of data centre construction. Rose urged operators to adopt resilience-focused approaches that diversify suppliers, secure long-term arrangements and improve demand forecasting.

He also highlighted the importance of engaging key contractors earlier in the project lifecycle. Early engagement can support more realistic scheduling and budgeting, improving the reliability of delivery pipelines across multiple sites.

Operators that position themselves as preferred clients may also find it easier to secure scarce EPC and supplier capacity. Rose noted that vendors often prioritise customers that offer predictable demand, collaborative planning and fair risk allocation.

Alongside these supply-side pressures, attention is shifting to how data centres fit into surrounding communities. Dave Philp, chief value officer at infrastructure software group Bentley Systems, said the industry needs a fundamental reset in how it treats these facilities.

He said International Data Centre Day is a moment to recognise the often-unseen critical infrastructure that underpins modern life. Like healthcare, transport and energy systems, Philp says data centres have become essential civic infrastructure in an increasingly connected world.

Philp says data centres are no longer isolated technical buildings.

"They are part of the fabric of local communities. Being a 'good neighbour' is no longer optional; it is fundamental to earning trust, securing consent, and operating sustainably over the long term. That requires a clear understanding of how data centres interact with local water resources, energy networks, transport infrastructure, and surrounding land use.

"When projects are informed by strong geospatial and subsurface insight from the outset, they can be planned in ways that minimise disruption, reduce risk, and deliver shared value. Done well, data centres can coexist more harmoniously within their environments, demonstrating that critical infrastructure can be a positive and enduring presence rather than a source of tension."

Philp says digital modelling, analysis and visualisation needs to be at the heart of how we plan, design, deliver and operate these facilities.

"By allowing planners, engineers, decision‐makers, and communities to see data centres in context, complex information becomes accessible and transparent.

"This enables better decisions, earlier engagement, and more resilient outcomes, anticipating construction challenges, responding to environmental constraints, and embedding operational resilience from day one.

"As global demand for digital services continues to accelerate, the challenge is not simply to build more data centres, but to build them better. Thoughtful design, digital insight, and a commitment to community and environmental stewardship are what turn a data centre from a functional box into a trusted, long‐term asset that genuinely serves society."