Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grid Capacity: West London

Tuesday 24 March 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Strategic infrastructure planning is underway for west London, including a national strategic spatial energy plan.
  • Heat network zoning is being implemented to identify waste heat reuse opportunities from data centres.
  • The government is embarking on the biggest grid upgrade since the 1960s to unlock potential across communities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Beales Lab Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Housing Transport Energy
Context

West London faces exceptionally high growth in electricity demand, necessitating significant grid upgrades to support new homes and infrastructure.

Question

What steps are being taken to increase grid capacity in west London? As well as for much-needed new homes and Hillingdon hospital, data centres also require additional capacity. What actions are being taken to strategically co-ordinate demands and secure local benefits such as jobs and heat capture?

Answer from Michael Shanks

Strategic infrastructure planning is crucial, which is why we are engaging in the first ever national strategic spatial energy plan. We are also looking at how to manage demand projects such as data centres for maximum advantage. Heat network zoning will identify waste heat reuse opportunities. We are delivering manufacturing and infrastructure jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific local benefits like jobs and heat capture not fully addressed in detail.

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Q2 Danny Beales Lab Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Employment Energy Local Government
Context

The West London Alliance, comprising six boroughs, faces a lack of grid capacity affecting new home developments and business opportunities.

Question

What actions are being taken to strategically co-ordinate demands from large number of proposed data centres in west London? How will local benefits such as jobs and heat capture be secured?

Answer from Michael Shanks

We are engaging in the first national strategic spatial energy plan to manage demand projects such as data centres. Heat network zoning will identify waste heat reuse opportunities, providing huge benefit for communities. We are delivering manufacturing and infrastructure jobs with grid upgrades.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific local benefits like jobs and heat capture not fully detailed.

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Q3 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Transport Energy
Context

The West London Alliance faces significant delays in new home developments and business opportunities due to lack of grid capacity.

Question

What urgent action is being taken to provide more power to the grid for west London, ensuring that projects are not frozen into the 2030s?

Answer from Michael Shanks

We have cleared out connections queue so more projects can connect. We launched a consultation for reforming demand side of the queue. The biggest grid upgrade since the 1960s is being embarked on to unlock potential across communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific immediate actions not detailed.

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