Scotland’s Data Centre Boom Sparks Local Backlash

Scotland’s cool climate, renewable-power base and available land have made it an increasingly attractive location for hyperscale data centres as generative AI drives demand for computing capacity. Supporters cast the projects as strategic digital infrastructure and a source of investment. Communities, however, are questioning who bears the cost if large facilities absorb grid and water capacity, industrialise rural landscapes and add noise and backup-generator emissions, while highly automated operations deliver relatively few durable local jobs.

The backlash intensified in summer 2026. Apatura applied in June to build a two-building, 300MW data centre at Larbert, pledging £1 billion of investment, 5,000 construction jobs and 1,300 permanent roles, with operations potentially starting in 2028. More than 800 objections had been filed by June 24. A Scottish Parliament motion said projects already proposed across the country could require at least 6,000MW of power — more than twice Scotland’s peak electricity use — sharpening calls for a pause and a national assessment of cumulative impacts.