A major UK artificial intelligence project, dubbed Stargate UK, faces scrutiny amid revelations that key partners OpenAI and Nscale never visited a primary proposed site at Cobalt Park in North Tyneside. The project, part of a larger US-UK technology deal announced in September 2025, has been called into question, with a source suggesting it was little more than a press release.
Investigations reveal that £20 billion of the touted £30 billion investment from the UK government was described as "potential" and appears to have been hypothetical. Furthermore, no planning applications have been filed for the Cobalt Park location. The project was officially paused by OpenAI in April 2026, with the company citing high energy costs and regulatory uncertainty as the reasons.