Campaigners demand ‘national conversation’ on hyperscale data centres

Campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to hold a “national conversation” on the need for hyperscale data centres.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and more than a dozen other groups made the plea in a letter to public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad, calling on her to ensure a “formal public consultation on hyperscale data centres before any are approved”.

The groups, who also include Action to Protect Rural Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth Scotland, wrote to the minister in the wake of a Holyrood vote which set out that no planning decisions should be taken on proposed data centres before new guidance is developed by the Scottish Government.

Ms Goodland – who told MSPs last month that planning guidance on data centres will be ready before Christmas – is also being urged to use this time to carry out further research into the impact of large-scale data centres.

Campaigners want to see independent analysis on the impact of hyperscale data centres on both Scotland’s grid and its net zero commitments.

In addition, they want a public consultation to be held on AI data centres over 50MW (megawatts) – saying this should consider if Scotland needs such facilities and how they could improve the “public good”.

They said such a consultation could also consider who should pay for any upgrades needed to the electricity grid to power the centres, and whether electricity costs for them should be subsidised.

Campaigners further want Ms Goodlad to produce a “clear definition of a green data centre” and to set this out to local councils in statutory planning guidance.

Fraser Sutherland, coalition manager of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “So far the rush to build hyperscale AI data centres has been lurking behind smoke and mirrors.

“It’s time for transparency and honesty over what these massive developments will mean for the Scottish people expected to live among them.

“What effects will they have on our energy supplies and bills, on our wildlife, landscapes and natural resources, and on our efforts to decarbonise homes, transport and industries so we are less exposed to fossil fuel price shocks?

“The Scottish Government must commission an independent and thorough expert examination of the impacts of rolling these out.

“There also needs to be full disclosure of the true numbers and locations of all schemes being proposed, even before planning consent is sought, so people are aware of plans for their area.

“Ministers must also hold a national conversation on Scotland’s need for hyperscale data centres and whether or not our communities actually want them.”

He suggested these moves would be part of a “responsible course of action” that would “help reassure the Scottish people, planners and investors that the process is transparent”, with decisions “made in the interests of the public, not tech company profits”.

With concerns about data centres and their impact growing, the Scottish Government has already pledged that environmental impact assessments will be required for all centres with a capacity of 50MW or above.

Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, said: “The public interest in the issue of hyperscale AI data centres is huge, and it is clear that all eyes are on the Scottish Government as they prepare the guidance and their strategic spatial approach – it is completely essential that this guidance is subject to a public consultation.

“The communities who have been opposing hyperscale data centres have become the experts in data centres and their impacts, and they need to be a key stakeholder in creating the guidance.”

Public finance minister Ms Goodlad said: “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 voices of communities that will be affected will be central to any considerations on data centres.”