Across Scotland there are over 20 proposals for AI data centres without proper consideration of social and environmental impacts. On 16 September, MSPs voted in support of a motion saying that until national guidance is published, no decisions on data centre planning applications should be made. However they declined to support a full moratorium on data centres.
The motion they passed says that until this guidance is published, no decisions on planning applications should be made. MPs supported proposals for publication of guidance before the end of the year.
In a separate statement, the Scottish Government said that no data centres would be approved in Scotland without an environmental impact assessment (EIA). This wasn’t previously required.
There is still a lack of clarity on the Scottish Government’s position, with questions being asked in Parliament again the day after the vote about whether data centres could be approved before the end of the year. The Scottish Government has not made its position clear on this matter.
Read more here.