The Facts
This page shares publicly available information from planning portals, government policy documents, industry publications, academic research and third sector organisations mostly relevant to the proposed hyperscale data centre near Hurlford. Each section includes a short explanation of why the issue matters and links to source documents so that you can read the details for yourself. This page will be updated as new documents become available.
What is widely agreed
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Hyperscale data centres use very large amounts of electricity
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Long-term on-site employment is limited compared with construction impact
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Grid, water, traffic and landscape impacts must be assessed during planning
What is debated
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The total electricity demand from all proposed centres in Scotland
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Whether existing planning rules are adequate
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How much local economic benefit remains in the host area
Data centres use huge amounts of electricity and run all day, every day. This size of development can put significant pressure on the electricity grid, especially where several sites are planned in the same area.
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“New, ‘hyperscale’ data centres which are planned for Scotland will demand between 2000–3000MW of electricity supply… Scotland’s current peak electricity demand in winter is 4GW (4000MW) – meaning that the new data centres would use as much as 50–75% of all the electricity Scotland currently needs.” (Foxglove)
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Government policy states that electricity discounts are offered to large data centre operators (not local residents).
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“Where data centres in AI Growth Zones facilitate these savings, they will receive a commensurate discount on electricity costs. For a 500 MW data centre this will be up to £24/MWh in Scotland.” (Delivering AI Growth Zones)
This raises questions about fairness. Who ultimately bears the cost of supporting hyperscale developments?
Energy Impact
AI Growth Zones Policy (Gov.UK) - how data centre policy is being shaped to benefit developers and investors.
Data centres in the Scottish planning system would double Scotland’s energy demands – Press release
Ireland's Government warned of rising household bills as data centres strain grid
Data centres planned for Scotland could use three quarters of country’s current electricity demand - Foxglove
Letter to Ivan McKee (18/12/25) from Action to Protect Rural Scotland
Water Usage
Report: Water use in AI and Data Centres - UK Government
Why are we working on Data Centres (Action to Protect Rural Scotland) - briefing on impacts of data centres, EIAs and policy concerns
Data Centres and Renewable Energy
AI computing produces a lot of heat, which has to be cooled all the time. Because of this, large data centres use large amounts of water to keep their systems running.
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Recent UK Government and independent reports have raised concerns about how large-scale data centres and AI infrastructure affect clean water supplies. Water use can reach millions of litres each year and it often increases during hot or dry weather, when water is already in short supply.
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This can put extra pressure on local water supplies and nearby rivers.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used in planning to assess the environmental effects of major developments, such as impacts on landscape, wildlife, traffic, noise, water use and energy demand. Despite the scale of what is proposed, an EIA has not been made mandatory for the Hurlford site.
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Under Scottish planning rules, some developments always need an EIA, while others only require one if they are likely to have significant impacts. In these cases, the decision is often based on information provided by the developer.
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The proposed data centre near Hurlford is very large, and smaller data centre developments elsewhere in Scotland, including Ochiltree, have been required to undergo EIA screening or a full assessment
Traffic & Infrastructure
25/0008/PREAPP – Hurlford Data Centre pre-application notice – Shows planned road access and infrastructure.
National Planning Framework 4 – Delivery Programme V4 – Guidance on infrastructure for big developments.
Apatura Ochiltree Data Centre EIA Screening Opinion – Example of traffic assessment for a smaller data centre
The proposed Hurlford data centre is huge and will need a lot of infrastructure, including new roads, equipment deliveries and visits from technicians, security staff and contractors.
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Staff will be limited so the main concern is construction and expansion, which will bring heavy vehicles onto local roads not designed for this traffic. If the site grows in phases, the impact could get worse. Most of the planning information comes from the developers, so it’s hard to see the full picture.
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We need to know how it might affect our daily lives. It could mean congestion, more accidents and damage to the roads we use every day.
Future Development
HENDRIE BIOTECH LIMITED – filing history (GOV.UK). See registration of charge SC3626050002
Public records show that ILI has legal control of the land, with an option to buy it. Logan Project Management is named as the renewable energy partner and may also be managing the site. Company filings linked to the land include Hendrie Biotech Limited.
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This raises concerns about whether further development on the site is already being planned. If a project of this size is brought forward in stages, there is a risk that the full impact is not looked at all at once. This could mean the full combined impacts, such as total energy and water use, traffic, noise and long-term change to the area are missed.
The proposed data centre would be extremely large and close to existing homes. Developments of this size bring visual impact, noise, lighting and fencing as well as long term changes to the landscape. Similar data centres elsewhere have required full EIAs to properly assess these effects, especially where future expansion is likely.
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Hyperscale data centres are mostly automated. While construction creates short term jobs, long term local employment is usually limited to a small number of technical and security roles.
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Public information suggests that the main benefits go to developers, while local communities face the impacts. Whilst Government policy states that that "AI Growth Zones are intended to deliver benefits for local people and places, not just to build infrastructure."
Community Impact
Action to Protect Rural Scotland – Why are we working on Data Centres?
Questions in the Parliament on Data Centres – Action to Protect Rural Scotland - Evidences political awareness of public cost, subsidies, and planning prioritisation
Policy Paper - Delivering AI Growth Zones (UK Government)
‘Colossus’ facilities add extra pollution to already overburdened communities (US) - The Guardian
Who actually benefits?
Can environmental impacts be fully assessed where an EIA has not been made mandatory?
The Pre-Application notice originally submitted did not explain in clear terms what the infrastructure would be. This was corrected after the Decision Notice (20/11/025).