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Search the Public Notice PortalTHE SNP National Council have called on the Scottish Government for a temporary pause on hyperscale data centre planning applications across the country.
While the proposal submitted to Fife Council for Cato to build a centre in Auchtertool has attracted national attention, it's unclear what this pause could mean for the village.
Developers say it would be a "state-of-the-art centre", but those objecting cite concerns around noise pollution and water supply issues. They also worry that the site could use as much energy as half of Scotland’s households.
At the time of writing, more than 17,000 people, across two petitions, have called for a halt to the Auchtertool plans, and to call on the local authority to refuse permission.
The deadline for the public to officially make their voice heard on the proposals was previously July 2 but has now been extended until July 24.
The SNP will now join the Scottish Greens in calling for a Scottish Government-led moratorium on AI data centre developments after a vote of the party’s national council.
Currently, there are around 24 hyperscale data centre proposals in various stages in Scotland's planning system.
The two parties hold a clear majority in Holyrood, so if a moratorium is formally proposed by either party it would likely pass, especially as figures from Labour, the LibDems, Conservatives and Reform UK have all raised concerns about data centre projects in their areas.
However, it could be challenged on a point of law by the developers.
A party spokesperson said: "AI data centres are evolving at pace, and the SNP fully recognises the concerns about the environmental impact and the impact on energy resources of hyperscale data centres.
"The Scottish Government is currently reviewing what action can be taken to help balance the rapid expansion of such centres with our national energy and climate goals - including a potential pause on applications."
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