Research noteResearched 20 Oct 2026 · published 20 Oct 2026, 12:27 IST

Research note: Microsoft pulls out of Nscale’s planned AI data centre in Loughton, Essex, as power delays bite

How we checked Microsoft’s exit from the Loughton project and kept the reason clearly unknown.

Research led by Mayank Sahu

Compiled with AI assistance (Claude by Anthropic)

Read the story →

At a glance

3searches run

3sources read

2sources used

7facts labelled

Mixedevidence strength · 4 of 6 facts (67%)

How we rate evidence: Some facts are confirmed, others rest on one report or on the company’s own claims. We count the share of known facts labelled Confirmed or Reported: 70% or more is Strong, 40–69% Mixed, below 40% Limited.

From sources to story

How many sources we read, how many we used, and how many are official or archived.

Read3Every source we opened

Used2Relied on for the story

Cited2Linked in the story

Official0From the company or a public body

Archived1Saved on the Internet Archive

How sure we are, fact by fact

421

Reported · 4 — Two or more independent, named outlets say it.
Unconfirmed · 2 — One report only, shown with its source.
Not known · 1 — Not announced or not answered yet.

Evidence map

Each row is a fact from the story; each column is a source. A filled dot means that source supports the fact.

Fact	Label	1OUT	2OUT
Microsoft withdrew from Nscale’s planned AI data centre in Loughton, Essex, first reported by The Telegraph.	Reported
Microsoft declined to comment and gave no reason.	Reported
Nscale says its relationship with Microsoft remains strong and other contracts are unaffected.	Reported
The site was told enough power may not arrive until the 2030s.	Reported
Microsoft had agreed to lease the first 50MW of a site expandable to 90MW.	Unconfirmed
Nscale seeks up to $3 billion in its IPO.	Unconfirmed
Microsoft’s reason for withdrawing.	Not known

Question

What we set out to check

Whether Microsoft has left the project, why, what Nscale said and what happens to the site.

Findings

What we found

Both outlets say The Telegraph first reported the withdrawal and that Microsoft declined to comment.
Both carry the same Nscale statement.
Neither report gives Microsoft’s reason, so we do not suggest one.

Discrepancies

Numbers that differ

TNW says power is not expected “until the 2030s”; CloudComputing News, citing The Guardian, says “early to mid-2030s”. We use the broader phrase.

Method

Labels we chose and why

Reported for the withdrawal, statements and grid delay.
Unconfirmed for the 50MW lease and IPO size, each seen in one outlet.

Open questions

What we could not verify

The Telegraph’s original report, which is behind a paywall.
Microsoft’s reason for leaving.

Can you help confirm one of these? Send us a source. When we find an answer, we update this note and the story, with the date.

Next steps

How we could improve this

Check Nscale’s IPO filing directly for the capacity figures and update if Microsoft comments.

Research timeline

Research20 Oct 2026
Research note published20 Oct 2026, 12:27 IST
Story published20 Oct 2026, 12:37 IST

What we searched

Microsoft Nscale Essex data centre withdraws
Nscale Loughton power 2030s
Nscale IPO Microsoft Loughton

Every source we read

Source	Used?	Why
TNW Archived copy	USED	Withdrawal, Nscale statement, IPO size.
CloudComputing News	USED	Capacity, grid timing, filing figures, Ofgem context.
IBTimes UK	NOT USED	Similar summary.

Sources cited in the story

Research notes show our working. They are not peer-reviewed papers. Data: facts as JSON · How we report