MSPs asked to pause Scotland’s AI data centre boom

Research by BBC Scotland News has identified, as of 24 June, at least 23 projects which are in the planning process, though most experts believe many of those are speculative applications and will never be built.

Shortly before the debate in parliament, the government ordered that environmental impact assessments be submitted during planning applications for all new data centres with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts.

It said that proposed developments under that threshold would still have to be considered under established environmental regulations on a case-by-case basis.

The update follow an order last month requiring planning authorities to notify ministers of all new data centre applications within a week of validation.

Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said that the requirement for environmental impact assessments would “create a level playing field for developers” while helping to protect the environment.

But the Greens described the move as “the bare minimum of what is needed”, arguing a moratorium was required until a national strategy and guidance was in place for councils.

For people living in communities where potential sites have been identified, fears remain about the faceless, warehouse-like buildings housing the servers can cover a massive footprint.