Holes in Government statement means data centre crisis will continue

Today (17 August), a new direction from the Scottish Government has told all council planning authorities to inform it of any data centre planning applications that they receive. It also requires that two planned data centres in Fife and Edinburgh will have to publish environmental impact assessments.  

However, the statement gives no guidance on the planned data centre at Larbert, which is one of the next hyperscale data centre plans to be considered by a planning authority in Scotland. A decision on the 300MW data centre is expected in early October. 

There are over 20 hyperscale data centres currently being planned in Scotland. The massive scale of these projects means that they require huge amounts of energy, water and materials to build and run. Local people in communities across Scotland have been protesting these developments, in particular the likely impact of noise, water and air pollution. 

Data centres cannot be built without critical minerals such as copper and gallium (a mineral used in lots of technology and electronics products). These minerals are linked to serious and extensive human rights and environmental damage in their supply chains. Copper mines are mainly located in South America and Africa, and often limit access to water or increase pollution for communities already at risk of drought. 

Kim Pratt, Senior Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland said: 

“The holes in the Scottish Government statement mean that the data centre crisis in Scotland will continue unchecked. It fails to include a requirement for all data centre plans to come clean on their huge environmental impacts and there is no definition of what safe, fair and sustainable data centres are.  

“This half-hearted action by the Scottish Government could leave communities in even more danger as big technology developers rush to push their plans through before the gaps in the planning system close. 

“The clock is ticking on the Larbert data centre, but the Scottish Government has failed to give guidance to Falkirk Council’s planning authority on how to protect people and nature from the impacts of these vast developments. 

“The Scottish Government must introduce a moratorium until proper safeguards are in place for all data centre plans and defines, clearly and comprehensively, what safe, fair and sustainable data centres are.”  

Norman Philip from local group Friends of the Earth Falkirk said: 

“The announcement today does nothing to help the local community in Larbert who have been crying out for support against a hyperscale data centre proposed on their doorstep, and right next to the local hospital. Last week hundreds of us rallied outside the proposed site and over 7000 people have submitted objections to the planning application.  

If it were to go ahead this site could become one of Scotland’s top ten biggest polluters, we need a pause that includes applications currently in the planning system.”  

Michael Maciocia, a Larbert resident said:  

“This is great news for those in Auchtertool and Edinburgh. However, for us in Larbert it creates even more uncertainty. In our opinion, there are only partial EIAs in place for the Larbert development.So where does that leave us? 

“There is nothing green nor beneficial that we can see in the Larbert application, let alone in the other 20 or so across Scotland. What does it mean to have “a balance struck between the economic and employment interests with energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions”, to the people of Glenbervie Care Home, the patients and staff of the Forth Valley Royal Hospital, the hundreds living within 120 metres, the thousands within 1km. Is their economic wellbeing being considered? The impact on their climate considered?  

“The only equitable solution is for Larbert to be put on hold along with all the other applications until there is clear and equitable consideration. One question to the minister – would she choose to live 120 metres from the Larbert development? If not then why are you asking anyone to!”