PROPOSALS for a data centre in Auchtertool will now be subject to an environmental impact assessment following fierce criticism.
Scottish public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said today (Monday 17) that planning authorities will now require an assessment for developments exceeding a power capacity of 50 megawatts (MW).
Planning authorities that receive an application for a data centre above 50mw must then send Scottish ministers a copy of this application, accompanying plans and documents, along with the full address and postcode of the site to be developed.
This will apply to the proposed mega-centre in Auchtertool, which has attracted mass criticism, including over 14,000 objections on Fife Council's planning portal.
Many residents in the area have attached banners reading "SAY NO TO CATO DATA CENTRE" to their properties in protest, as well as staging a demonstration outside the village hall as resident-developer consultations were being carried out.
Controversially, until now, there was no stipulation for an EIA assessment of the site, something that Dr Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), said was "shocking".
She said: "When you have a development that uses the energy of 600,000 homes and needs diesel back-up to keep on 24/7, then even with routine testing they are going to breach safe air pollution limits. And when there is a power interruption, and the generators are on emergency power, it will be completely off the charts.
"This analysis is surely the most compelling reason why the Scottish Government needs to put a moratorium on all applications for hyperscale data centres to allow time for them to go on schedule 1 of the EIA regulations so all will be required to conduct proper and detailed environmental checks."
Today, Mark Ruskell Green MSP welcomed the news but expressed caution, saying there were ongoing issues with the prospect of more data centres in Scotland.
He said: "I was in Auchtertool last week speaking to people about their concerns. A lot of people in Fife are really worried about the impact that hyperscale data centres could have here for our community and across our country.
“So, whilst I welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to intervene and mandate an environmental impact assessment for the Auchtertool proposal, it is completely unbelievable that a hyperscale data centre of this size still doesn't trigger this check as standard."
He said the announcement "acknowledges the problem" but would not pause or prevent a single hyperscale data centre from being approved.
“While it is welcome that Ministers have finally recognised the scale of these developments and the need for scrutiny, monitoring the pipeline is not the same as managing it. Until the cumulative impact on our energy grid, water supplies, climate targets and communities have been properly assessed and our councils have clear guidance, there must be a pause on all applications.
"That's why I’m calling on Fife Council to join calls for a moratorium on all hyperscale AI data centre applications until a proper assessment of the impact of these sites is completed, and full guidance is issued to councils. It is time to pause hyperscale data centre applications until we have clear guidance, communities have certainty, and Scotland has a coherent national strategy to deal with them instead of a corporate free-for-all," he added.
Welcoming the news, Shirley Anne Somerville, SNP MSP for Dunfermline, said: "Although not based in Dunfermline, many constituents have contacted me to share their views about this site.
"The Minister for Public Finance has made clear that planning decisions need to balance the economic and employment opportunities associated with data centres against the potential impact on local communities.
"I believe it is vital that communities have a meaningful voice in decisions that could have a significant impact on their area, and that environmental and infrastructure considerations are properly assessed."
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