Thousands march in Edinburgh against large AI data centres as planning rules are prepared

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Edinburgh on Saturday against proposed large-scale artificial-intelligence data centres in Scotland. Gathering at the top of the Royal Mile, they walked towards the Scottish Parliament with placards and costumes highlighting concerns about energy, water, local disruption and the environment. Some represented communities facing specific proposals, including Cockenzie in East Lothian, Larbert in Falkirk and Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway.

Campaigners argue that the proposed developments are of a different scale from Scotland's existing facilities. DataVita's Airdrie site, described as the country's largest existing data centre, has a capacity of 12 megawatts. A proposed Chapelcross development could reach 1,000 megawatts if it goes ahead. Those numbers describe capacity and a proposal, not a claim that the larger facility is operating already.

Chapelcross campaigner Kim Cairns raised concerns about construction traffic, road access and noise, followed by operational noise, light and air pollution. She said an area now occupied by fields and livestock could be changed dramatically. Friends of the Earth campaigner Kim Pratt argued that the developments' energy demand and climate consequences would have national effects and that people should be consulted before decisions were made. These are campaigners' concerns and predictions, not measured impacts from an operating Chapelcross centre.

The Scottish Greens and campaign groups have called for a pause on large data-centre approvals, saying the projects could put pressure on renewable power and climate targets. Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has defended a different view, describing data centres as the AI sector's equivalent of whisky warehouses. He has also argued that comparisons with poorly located overseas facilities ignore Scotland's planning controls and local circumstances.

The Scottish government says it will publish new data-centre planning guidance before the end of the year and is developing an approach intended to increase public benefit. Planning authorities must now notify ministers about new applications. A new direction also requires an Environmental Impact Assessment for proposed data centres exceeding 50 megawatts. Those requirements do not amount to either automatic approval or a nationwide ban; individual projects remain subject to the planning process.