Thousands object to 'humungous' data centres as deadline looms
Two hyperscale data centres planned for Larbert near Falkirk and Auchtertool in Fife have attracted significant opposition
Campaigners against two “humungous” proposed new data centres are urging people to submit views before Thursday’s deadline.
The public have until July 2 to respond to plans to construct hyperscale data centres in both Larbert, near Falkirk, and Auchtertool in Fife.
Conservation charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) – which has led calls for a moratorium on such developments – said the two centres combined would require 900 megawatts (MW) of power, the equivalent of almost a quarter of Scotland’s current peak electricity demand.
APRS director Dr Kat Jones said:” Each of these two hyperscale data centres are absolutely humungous.
“As well as the massive impacts they have on the local communities, their vast energy use will have implications for our grid, our climate emissions and our energy prices.”
She added: “This is something that matters to everyone in Scotland and we are encouraging anyone who feels strongly about hyperscale AI data centres to respond to these applications directly via the relevant planning portal.
“As well as objecting to hyperscale AI data centres as they come through the planning system we are calling for a moratorium from Scottish Government until research on the impacts, and our governance and policy can catch up with this AI juggernaut.”
Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition against the data centre planned for Auchtertool, with more than 3,100 objections said to have been submitted against the Larbert site.
The explosion of computer power has produced a surge in demand for secure and reliable data storage.
Scotland’s data centre infrastructure is relatively modest at present, with less than 20 facilities up and running. The largest among them, DataVita’s Fortis centre in the North Ayrshire village of Chapelhall, is working to expand its capacity to 40MW - the equivalent power of that used by around 30,000 homes.
But the hyperscale centres in the planning pipeline represent a quantum leap in size and scale, with some boasting capacities of as much as 1000MW.
At least 19 sites in Scotland are earmarked for the creation of these new centres, driven by the exponential growth of AI and its voracious appetite for processing power.
Andrea Cail, chairwoman of Auchtertool Community Council, said the campaign against the propsed data centre for the Fife site – which has been backed by Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance – had brought together the village and surrounding communities.
She said: “We have leafleted, developed banners, held meetings, spoken with our elected councillors, MSPs, MP and the media. Everyone has contributed from school children to our older residents.
“Conversations in person, on social media and by letter have united behind one aim – to urge Fife Council to reject this proposal and refuse planning permission in principle for a 600 MW data centre on the edge of our village.”
Ms Cail added: “These hyperscale AI data centres are so huge and use so much energy and water that they are not just a local issue.
“The impacts on climate emissions, air pollution and on Scotland’s energy grid and electricity prices is going to impact the whole of Scotland. This is why we are calling on people everywhere to stand with us to oppose this development.”
Tasha Marsden, who is campaigning against the planned data centre in Larbert, said: “The opposition to this proposal just keeps growing.
“We have more than 3,000 objections on the Falkirk council planning portal and hundreds more stream in every day.”
She added: “If anyone is still to write an objection, the clock is ticking down. We are encouraging everyone to submit their opinion, engage in the planning process and make their voices heard.”
The Scottish Government has rejected calls for a moratorium on new hyperscale data centres, but in Holyrood last week First Minister John Swinney said he would consider if it is “appropriate” for local councils to take decisions on them.
He told MSPs he would “explore” whether such decisions should be taken locally “given the scale of the developments involved”.
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