Fife AI data centre campaigners join demo at Scottish Parliament

The gathering came as questions were raised in the chamber, and saw a number of people travel from Auchtertool where the ILI Group wants to site the huge complex.

The proposed £5bn centre - one of several across Scotland - has generated an unprecedented number of objections. Over 1200 comments have been posted on the planning portal, more than 2500 people have signed a petition calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a moratorium - and 8000 have signed a petition against the Auchtertool centre in particular.

There was also backlash after Fife Council said an EIA was not required at this stage of the process. The Scottish Government’s planning department has now ruled that it must happen as the proposed development is “likely to have significant environmental effects.”

This week, campaigners went to Holyrood as politicians raised the issue.

David Torrance MSP for Kirkcaldy met with a number of them, and said: “The passion, and energy, was genuinely impressive.” He added: “Hearing first-hand about the impact data centres have had on their communities back home provides some really valuable insight. A special mention must go to the strong turnout from Auchtertool residents, whose presence and support was noticeable. They did a fantastic job of making sure that local voices were heard.” In the Parliament, Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife asked Jenny Gilruth, Deputy First Minister what plans they had to further update planning guidance in relation to the development of hyperscale data centres, following the latest planning direction issued in August. He also pressed the Government to establish a moratorium on applications whilst adequate guidance was developed.

Ms Gilruth said they were considering planning guidance and would keep Parliament updated - but the Glenrothes politician did not agree to a moratorium.

Mr Ruskell described her response as “disappointing.”

He said: “Today, hundreds of people gathered outside Parliament angry at the lack of meaningful action from the Scottish Government to stand up to big tech and control the hyperscale data centre boom.

“I share their frustration. Two months have passed since I last raised this issue in the chamber. Since then, all we’ve seen is a weak commitment from the Government to be notified when applications are submitted, and a frankly bizarre pledge in the new Programme for Government to encourage more applications for green data centres, despite the fact that we still do not have a definition of what a ‘green’ data centre is. “It’s beyond time for the Scottish Government to show leadership – we need an urgent pause on all hyperscale data centre applications, until they provide a full definition of a green data centre, robust planning guidance for Councils, and require environmental assessments on applications as standard.”