Action to Protect Rural Scotland

When you're campaigning against a hyperscale AI data centre and 'Building Standards and Development Management' takes on a whole new meaning.

We have just had a dramatic Parliamentary questions at Holyrood with questions from across the parties on hyperscale AI data centres put to the Minister. Coinciding with a rally of local campaigners from across Scotland outside the Parliament.

Campaigns against hyperscale AI data centres planned at Dunbar, Hermiston and the Gyle in Edinburgh, Larbert, Hunterston, Auchtertool, Bishopriggs, Hurlford, the AI growth zone at Chapelhall and Longformacus/lammermuirs were represented.

You can watch it here.

https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-june-24-2026?clip_start=14:08:49&clip_end=14:26:49

Graham Simpson MSP has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament which particularly notes concern over the air quality implications of diesel generators related to hyperscale data centre developments.

The motion also mentions the lack of a definition for a 'green data centre' and 'notes calls for the Scottish Government to issue urgent guidance on the term, including in relation to the use of gas and diesel power and the air quality standards that should apply.'

We are encouraging supporters to email their MSPs to ask them to support this motion.

Full text below.

Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Motion type: Members' Business Motion
Motion reference: S7M-00428
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support

That the Parliament notes with concern proposals for hyperscale AI data centres across the Central Scotland and Lothian West region, including at Ravenscraig, Larbert, Newhouse and West Calder, and near communities affected by the proposed AI Growth Zone at Chapelhall; understands that such developments may rely on diesel generators to support 24/7 operation; further understands that there are concerns over potential nitrogen oxide emissions; recognises that there are community concerns about the cumulative impact on air quality, emissions, green space and energy costs; regrets that National Planning Framework 4 does not define “green data centres”, and notes calls for the Scottish Government to issue urgent guidance on the term, including in relation to the use of gas and diesel power and the air quality standards that should apply.

Ariane Burgess MSP has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for a "national planning moratorium on hyperscale data centres pending a full assessment of their impacts on energy demand, decarbonisation targets, local air quality, and domestic electricity bills."

The motion also "urges Scottish Ministers to engage urgently with communities affected by proposed projects"

The full text is below. We are encouraging supporters to email their MSPs to ask them to support this motion.

Motion Number: S7M-00419
Lodged By: Ariane Burgess
Date Lodged: 18/06/2026

Title: Recognising Concerns Over Hyperscale Data Centre Plans

Motion Text:

That the Parliament welcomes the use of machine learning to support sustainable economic and academic activity as part of Scotland’s future economy, and supports projects such as the 39MW University of Edinburgh supercomputer; understands that planning applications for a substantial number of hyperscale data centres across Scotland have already been submitted and that, if developed, these could collectively require at least 6000MW of power, which is equivalent to more than double the whole of Scotland’s peak energy usage; notes that this potential level of demand was not accounted for in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, which was published in March 2026; understands that, in other countries, similar projects have been a factor in rising domestic energy costs; further understands that many such projects require diesel or gas-powered backup generation, with potential implications for carbon emissions and local air quality; recognises that the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4 discusses “green data centres” without providing a definition, either in terms of climate impact or air quality; notes that there is no mandatory requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment for such developments; urges Scottish Ministers to engage urgently with communities affected by proposed projects, and calls on the Scottish Government to provide clarity and certainty to local authorities as they consider these unprecedented proposals, including by applying the precautionary approach used in the case of fracking and introducing a national planning moratorium on hyperscale data centres pending a full assessment of their impacts on energy demand, decarbonisation targets, local air quality, and domestic electricity bills.

No EIA will be required for Auchtertool Data centre despite calculations it would be major polluter

The proposed hyperscale AI data centre at Auchtertool could emit as much NOx air pollution as the nearby Shell liquified gas plant under normal operations according to calculations.

This has been reported in the Sunday Mail today and the detail and methodology of the calculations are on our website.

No EIA required for Auchtertool Data centre despite calculations it would be major polluter - Action to Protect Rural Scotland The proposed hyperscale AI data centre at Auchtertool could emit as much NOx air pollution as the nearby Shell liquified gas plant under normal operations according to calculations.

Congratulations to the Save The Lammermuirs - Stop The Data Centre Campaign on passing the 10,000 mark for their petition!!!

🚨 OUR PETITION IS NOW LIVE 🚨

A huge industrial-scale data centre is being proposed for the Lammermuir Hills.

We believe this is the wrong development in the wrong place.

If you care about protecting Scotland's landscapes, wildlife, dark skies and rural communities, please sign and share.

Every signature matters.

✍️ Sign the petition here: https://c.org/CZgKCLqMHG