Coulter BIM Information Management

Autodesk has quietly rolled out a major update that will make life easier for project teams working under ISO 19650 and UK procurement rules. The Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) platform — covering Docs, BIM Collaborate, Takeoff and other modules — can now store project data on servers located in the UK. This move isn’t just about where the data sits; it has big implications for how we manage Common Data Environments (CDEs) in line with UK public policy, the Building Safety Act, and client information requirements.

Why Data Residency Matters

For years, one of the sticking points for UK public sector clients has been data sovereignty. Many were hesitant to use cloud-based CDEs hosted outside the UK or EU, especially when project information included safety-critical or sensitive data. ISO 19650-5 reinforces this by asking teams to adopt a security-minded approach to information management, meaning that even something as simple as where data is stored can trigger risk assessments.

By introducing UK-based data storage, Autodesk is addressing a long-standing procurement barrier. Local storage reduces exposure to cross-border data transfer laws and makes it easier to comply with both the GDPR and public sector security guidance. For clients, this is reassurance that their project’s digital records remain under UK jurisdiction.

Implications for ISO 19650 Compliance

Under ISO 19650-2 and -3, appointing parties must define information requirements and set rules for the project CDE. Until now, when the CDE was hosted overseas, information managers often had to write complex caveats into the BEP or Information Protocol.

With UK data storage, these issues simplify:

EIR alignment: Exchange Information Requirements can now specify “data stored within UK region” without ruling out ACC.

Information Security Assessments: Security-minded reviews (ISO 19650-5 / NPSA guidance) become easier to evidence, since data never leaves UK jurisdiction.

Auditability: Local hosting supports clearer audit trails for Building Safety Act “golden thread” requirements.

Put simply, data residency now becomes an enabler rather than a barrier in procurement.

What Project Teams Need To Do

This update isn’t automatic — project administrators need to make sure new projects are spun up with the UK region selected. Existing projects may still sit in EU or global regions, so it’s worth checking and planning migrations where clients demand UK residency.

For information managers, practical steps include:

Update templates: Revise BEP, EIR, and Information Protocol documents to reference the option of UK data residency in ACC.

Communicate with clients: Let clients know this capability now exists. For public sector clients especially, this may remove objections they previously had to using ACC.

Review training materials: Ensure project admins know how to choose the correct region when creating new projects.

Audit legacy projects: Check which region older projects are hosted in, and decide whether migration is required to meet current policy.

Why This Matters for Procurement

UK government frameworks and local authorities increasingly include digital maturity and information assurance as tender scoring criteria. Until now, teams often had to argue that ACC’s European data hosting was “close enough.” That argument is no longer needed.

This puts Autodesk on a stronger footing against competitors in the CDE space, especially when bidding for projects tied to the Building Safety Act, NHS estates, or local authority regeneration programmes. For supply chains, it reduces the risk of being marked down on compliance grounds.

Conclusion

Autodesk’s decision to offer UK-based data storage for ACC is more than a technical upgrade. It directly supports CDE compliance under ISO 19650, makes it easier to align with the Building Safety Act’s golden thread, and reduces procurement risks for public sector projects.

For BIM and information managers, the message is clear: update your documents, inform your clients, and make sure your project admins use the new UK region setting. It’s a simple change that removes one of the biggest objections to using ACC on sensitive UK projects.