Plans for a major artificial intelligence growth zone in Lanarkshire, which promised a renewables-powered datacentre and thousands of jobs, are unlikely to be delivered by 2030, a Guardian investigation has found. The project, touted as a landmark for Scottish AI infrastructure, has no prospect of meeting its renewable energy pledge, according to the report.
The UK government’s broader AI growth zones initiative aims to support the construction of massive datacentre complexes of 500MW or larger, potentially exceeding any currently operating in Britain. However, experts have described some of these plans as unclear or even “complete bunk”, with concerns that the government has overlooked significant practical hurdles.
Local residents in the Scottish village chosen for the Lanarkshire datacentre have expressed dismay, with one stating, “It’s smoke and mirrors.” The investigation highlights a gap between ambitious announcements and the feasibility of executing such large-scale infrastructure projects within the proposed timeframe.
