Scottish councils have been issued no new guidance on massive AI data centres despite MSPs approving a national freeze on projects a month ago. Multiple councils, including Fife and the Borders where there are live planning applications for hyperscale data server plants, have confirmed they have had no correspondence from the Scottish Government since the Holyrood vote.
Pause approved but no communication
In September, MSPs and the government agreed to pause planning applications on hyperscale data centres so SNP ministers can update planning rules, expected by the end of the year. The findings come via freedom of information responses to the Scottish Greens.
Speaking at FMQs earlier this month about the data centre pause, the First Minister insisted that “What I and my ministers say in Parliament will be reflected in the communication and the interventions of the Chief Planner” who issues guidance to councils.
Green MSP challenges First Minister
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “This is clearly not the case. Parliament voted for a pause and local authorities should have had an explanation of what this means in practice or a planning direction issued while the guidance is being drafted. The First Minister must set out clearly what is expected of local authorities and what this pause actually means.”
Harvie added: “Communities are worried about this huge boom in hyperscale data centre applications. Just last month one was lodged for what could be one of the world’s largest, at Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Chapelcross plans and campaign
The proposed 1000MW Chapelcross data campus, on the site of a former nuclear plant, would be bigger than any other data centre currently operational in the world. A grassroots campaign opposing the plans has swiftly taken shape, with more than 1000 signing a petition against the development.
Reports last week found the firm behind the £16.5million plan, CX Tech, is controlled by Tory party treasurer and millionaire donor Graham Edwards. It is the latest of around 20 proposed hyperscale sites currently in Scotland’s planning system, which if all built would carry unsustainable energy demands and lead to widespread blackouts, according to campaigners.
Protest planned for November
Critics have also pointed out data centres will support few jobs when operational while helping replace millions of workers globally with AI bots. Speaking ahead of a thousands-strong protest against data centres expected in Edinburgh on November 14, Caroline Rance of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “Big Tech billionaires have set their sights on Scotland as their next AI data centre hotspot but we still have time to stop them.”
Sam Gibson, a Dumfries and Galloway resident campaigning against the Chapelcross site, said: “We are marching to say that we don’t want AI data centres in Scotland.” The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
