OpenAI apparently never visited the site of its flagship UK AI project

What happened

A Guardian and The Next Web investigation revealed that OpenAI never physically visited the Cobalt Park site in northeast England before announcing it in September 2025 as the flagship location of the £20 billion Stargate UK project. The site remains a scaffolding yard with no groundbreaking.

Context and impact

The project was quietly paused in April 2026 citing UK electricity costs and unresolved copyright regulations. The revelation raises broader questions about whether the UK government systematically verifies AI infrastructure pledges before public announcements — and how real similar AI-company 'partnerships' across Europe and Asia truly are.

Details

• Cobalt Park was announced as Stargate UK's flagship site in September 2025 without any prior OpenAI visit
• Project paused April 2026 — reasons: electricity costs + copyright regulatory uncertainty
• No OpenAI representative ever visited for a physical inspection, per Guardian sources
• UK government presented the deal as a £20 billion AI infrastructure investment
• The credibility question extends to other planned Stargate locations in Europe and Asia