Tag: data centres

Direction for new data centres

Environmental Impact Assessments now required

Large data centre applications are set to face more stringent environmental requirements.

The Scottish Government has published a planning direction which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted during planning for all new data centres with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts (MW).

This follows a direction last month requiring planning authorities to notify Scottish Ministers of all new data centre applications within seven days of validation.

Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said: “The Scottish Government recognises that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector attracting a broad range of views, opinions and concerns, and that evidence on the environmental impact of data centres continues to develop.

“As this is an emerging industry, we have the opportunity to get this right from the start. The guidance issued today is the next step in that process.

“We must balance the economic and employment interests in developing data centres with national energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local communities.

“Ensuring that an Environmental Impact Assessment is always part of the application process will create a level playing field for developers and will ensure potentially significant environmental effects are considered from the outset.”

The Scottish Greens expressed frustration at the decision: ‘SNP have teamed up with the Tories and Lib Dems.

‘They’ve voted down a Green motion which would have brought in a moratorium against new hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland.

‘Instead they’ve chosen to muddy the water, leaving confusion when our communities need certainty.’

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Data Centres exceeding 50MW Power Capacity) (Scotland) Direction 2026

Greens hail support for Data Centre halt

TIME TO HALT AI DATA CENTRES?

The Scottish Greens have hailed Outlander star Sam Heughan’s support for a moratorium on hyperscale AI data centres ahead of a crunch vote in the Scottish Parliament today brought by the Green MSPs.

The Outlander star has urged politicians to “listen to what communities and environmental organisations are saying” and halt climate-wrecking data centre applications until a national strategy is in place. 

The Scottish Greens have called for all applications for data centres above 50MW to be paused until a clear national strategy is in place, but the Scottish Government has fallen short of committing to a moratorium.

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “Sam Heughan is right that the Scottish Government should listen to communities and campaigners who are calling for a moratorium.

“We need an immediate pause on these applications until we can assess the impact on our energy systems and local environments. The current approach from the Scottish Government is unsustainable. 

“MSPs can show support for local communities by backing our calls for a proper national strategy and demanding the halt that is needed.”

You can ask MSPs to vote for a moratorium with a quick e-action from Friends of the Earth Scotland.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is calling for a moratorium ‘because of our profound concerns about the environmental impacts of these mega data centres’. 

The campaigners say data centre proposals that are already known about would require more electricity than Scotland’s total peak winter demand.

And the number of applications could triple under projections from the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

That would divert far too much renewable energy from heating our homes, charging our EVs and powering our public transport, and decarbonising our industry – all of which is needed to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and tackle the climate crisis. 

Data centre planning direction

Harnessing opportunities of data centres in Scotland

Planning authorities will be required to notify Scottish Ministers of new data centre applications within seven days of validation.

A new direction, issued by Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad, applies to data centre developments exceeding 50 Megawatts (MW) power capacity. It will support strategic monitoring of the pipeline of such planning applications and of the implications for wider infrastructure. 

Ms Goodlad has also recalled a planning appeal for Ministerial decision relating to a proposed green data centre in Edinburgh, and has issued directions requiring Environmental Impact Assessments at locations in Fife and Edinburgh.

She said: “Data centres is a rapidly emerging sector, and planning has an important role to play in considering applications, harnessing economic opportunities, and finding solutions which align with our climate goals.

“We must balance the economic and employment interests in developing data centres with national energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local communities.

“It is essential to secure public benefits from this type of development, and I am clear that voices of communities that will be affected will be central to any considerations on data centres.”