On the theme of data centres, It’s important that people are aware of what’s round the corner for Scotland, which is now set to become the data centre hub for the rest of the UK and beyond.
The association for the protection of rural Scotland has written to the planning Minister Ivan McKee: https://aprs.scot/resources/letter-to-minister-on-data-centres-and-planning-policy/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPt9idleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETA0QjExV0ZZSkxCY0pienNxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpAGy5pCgVDnnrSGSUd_ScnJtozk8uNp4aQaDPUT6tCsT2y8aE2HWePUPKxG_aem_ymFayx5csL23zh20qzoOXw
Some of the bald facts –
The energy demand from data centres currently in the Scottish planning system is between 4450 MW and 4950 MW, which is larger than the winter peak electricity demand for the whole of Scotland.
APRS, searching the planning portals of Scotland’s local authorities have found 17 hyperscale data centers at various stages of the planning process and many others at earlier stages. None have yet received a decision on whether or not they have planning permission.
A massive 1GW data centre alone, one of the largest in the world, has submitted a planning application in N. Ayrshire.
I previously posted how developers are being given incentives by the UK Gov to locate data centres in Scotland vs. England.
However the Scottish Government have now (quietly) changed NPF4 to recategorise data centres as nationally significant projects. This means that EIA regulations will not apply and NPF4 will allow ‘green’ data centres, (ie using electricity from the grid which has been created by renewables) priority over other NPF4 policies. e.g. they will be allowed developments in flood zones and SEPA will not be able to object.
Local planning authorities will be expected to update their Local Development Plans to support the consent of data centres. Local communities will therefore have no ability to mount any effective opposition.
This change to NPF4 and consenting multiple data centres will have a knock on effect of requiring even more windfarms and more BESS to provide and store power – leaving aside the need for back up diesel generators mentioned earlier today in another post.
It’s strange, but I’m not aware of any public consultation by the UK or Scottish Governments about such major changes to our planning legislation and policy to faciltate commercial, profit making developments which are likely to have huge environmental impacts.
Is this another behind the scenes ‘Epstein’ influence on our policy makers, or does it just confirm that democracy is truly dead?
Rachel Connor
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