Signal
Data-centre construction boom — cost, scale, and delivery constraints
Construction costs and programme complexity are rising materially, increasing the value of disciplined procurement and interface controls.
Share
Data centresConstructionCost escalationProgramme riskFilter-bubble: 7%
Discuss how this affects your decision
We can pressure-test assumptions and map the next verification steps.
Signal snapshot
Explicit fields; nothing is defaulted or fabricated.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 October 2025 |
| Published (ISO) | 2025-10-31 |
| Sort key | 20251031 |
| Decision impact | 77/100 |
| Evidence confidence | 74/100 |
| Filter-bubble risk | 7% |
| Sources count | 2 |
Key points
Decision-relevant statements; inference should be labelled in the content.
- Reported project cost ranges have widened significantly; delivery plans must account for scope creep and commissioning complexity.
- Remote or non-core hubs can carry heightened nat-cat and response-time risks; this changes resilience design and insurance considerations.
- Premium outputs should convert narrative risk into controls: contractor qualification gates, commissioning assurance, and interface ownership.
Actions
Practical next steps if this Signal touches your mandate.
- Add commissioning and interface assurance as explicit workstreams with named owners and evidence deliverables.
- Use contractor and supplier qualification gates based on comparable scale/complexity rather than general construction credentials.
Sources and evidence
Clean links; keep publication and access dates.
Published: 31 October 2025 • Accessed: 30 December 2025
Published: Ongoing • Accessed: 30 December 2025