Scotland is implementing new regulations for datacentres following significant public and political opposition to proposed large-scale developments. The minister for public finance has issued new directions, requiring planning authorities to notify the government of any datacentre application exceeding 50MW.
Additionally, specific datacentre projects, such as the proposed development in Auchtertool, Fife, are now mandated to submit an environmental impact assessment. Developers for these projects had previously argued they were exempt from such assessments.
The proposed Auchtertool datacentre, described as potentially the world's second-biggest, has drawn 1,600 objections. David Torrance, a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the area, stated he has "never seen this level of objection to a local plan."
Concerns are also being raised about planned developments in other Scottish towns like Airdrie and Larbert. The national council of the Scottish National Party has passed a motion calling for a freeze on all new datacentre projects that have not yet received planning permission.
Campaigners are planning a demonstration in Edinburgh in early September, three days after the Scottish Parliament reconvenes, to advocate for a full moratorium on datacentre development.