This site is for a ‘multi gigawatt’ hyperscale AI data centre north of Aberdeen at Backdog near Potterton. It will be on the edge of the dune system and on a former MOD firing range. The plan is for to start at 600MW and scale to ‘multigigawatts’.
This is a “multi-gigawatt” data centre on around 200 acres of land on a former Ministry of Defence firing range. The “multi-billion-pound data centre and AI campus” would start with 600MW of power from offshore renewables plus grid, according to the press release published in the Press and Journal.
APP/2016/0766 – Planning Permission in Principle was given for the site for “Mixed Use Development Comprising Town Centre Including Regional Food Hall, Retail, Leisure and Class 3 Uses; Business and Industrial Uses (Classes 4, 5 and 6); Alterations to Access from A90 Roundabout, Local Access, Landscaping, Car Parking, Cycle and Pedestrian Facilities and Low Carbon Infrastructure”
A further application APP/2019/2161 for ‘matters in conditions specified’ (in the original planning permission) was submitted in 2019 and approved in 2021. This was within the three year deadline specified in the original application APP/2016/0766. This second application seems to have dealt with most site wide planning conditions and
some of the unit-specific conditions set out in the first decision. The applicant will have until 2027 to put in a further detailed application to cover any of the unit specific conditions not already met.
In their press release Ashfield Land and TechRE, the developers, said they “believe plans for the multi-billion pound data centre would align with these conditions.”
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Site Plan for previous planning permission
Location
Media coverage
Our position on this development was covered in the papers when it was announced.
- The National Plans for multi-billion-pound data centre and AI campus in Aberdeen
- The Scotsman Plans unveiled for ‘multi-gigawatt’ data centre near Aberdeen
- The Herald So is this what our offshore wind is for? Data centres?
Other relevant information
There has been trouble developing this land in the past due to the presence of a dump of toxic oil and gas waste in the dunes directly south of the site which affects the land (see map below). There is a report on this on the council website.
22 April 2026 Multi-Billion Data Centre Plan Could Transform North East Scotland and Scottish Offshore Wind
Plans have been unveiled for a multi-billion-pound infrastructure project that would put North East Scotland at the heart of one of the world’s fastest growing industries.
Around 200 acres of land at Blackdog, to the north of Aberdeen, has been secured by a development consortium with a view to turning the site, including the former Ministry of Defence firing range into a multi-gigawatt data centre and AI campus, starting with an initial 600 megawatts of both renewable and grid connected power.
Backed by property developers Ashfield Land and data centre specialists TechRE, the project is also aiming to accelerate the rollout of offshore wind in Scotland by offering renewable energy projects a route to market.
A recent survey by True North Advisors and Diffley Partnership shows strong local backing for a green data centre, industrial and energy park at Blackdog, with 62% of the 1,303 people polled across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in favour of the proposed development.
At full scale, the Blackdog campus could unlock billions of pounds in private investment, with a single gigawatt of data centre capacity requiring over £10 billion pounds to develop.
During construction it would support around 1,000 construction jobs, as well as around 100 highly skilled permanent roles and up to 2,000 indirect jobs across engineering, digital services and R&D.
Planning consent has already been secured with Aberdeenshire Council for the first phase of the campus, with developers hopeful that first ground could be broken in 2026, subject to final commercial agreements.
And the proposal has also secured the support of Opportunity North East (ONE) and ETZ Ltd – the leading private sector-led economic development catalysts supporting accelerated diversification and energy excellence across the region.
Steven McGarva, Managing Director at Ashfield Land, said:
“Blackdog is exactly the kind of generational investment the North East of Scotland needs. After a tough few years for Aberdeen and the wider region, this project would deliver billions of pounds of investment and create scores of high-value jobs, helping to deliver a just transition for the region’s oil and gas workforce.
“Given that data centres are, by their very nature, power hungry, Blackdog is also inextricably linked to Scotland’s renewable energy rollout. We’ve spent years assembling the land and securing the planning foundations to make this vision viable.
“We have now partnered with TechRE, a best-in-class consultancy that has extensive experience in owning, managing and operating a portfolio of data centres. Working across the UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East, they have delivered projects on behalf of multiple hyperscalers, operators, end users and data centres funding parties.
“It is TechRe’s unrivalled expertise that will turn Blackdog into a state-of-the-art development that can redefine the region’s economic future.”
As businesses, governments and consumers increasingly rely on digital platforms, the need for large, efficient and sustainably powered facilities has accelerated dramatically.
According to the International Energy Agency, AI-driven data centre electricity consumption is projected to more than double by 2030, rising to over 945 TWh from approximately 460 TWh in 2024, representing nearly 3% of global demand.
A data centre is a highly secure, energy-intensive facility that houses vast numbers of computer servers, storage systems and networking equipment, all working together to process, store and distribute digital information.
In practical terms, they are the physical backbone of the internet and modern technology, enabling everything from cloud computing and streaming services to financial transactions and artificial intelligence.
Across the world, data centres are setting up shop in oil and gas hotspots, driven by the need for reliable, high-volume power, often supplied through a direct link to a generation source.
Henry Sutton, Director, TechRE, said:
“Blackdog has the potential to be one of the biggest AI data centre projects in the UK, with access to three gigawatts of renewably generated wind energy, significant grid connections and the ability to bring international subsea cables straight to its door.
“This unique mix makes it attractive to the world’s biggest AI names looking to develop large data centre campuses that are well connected globally, have lots of redundant power available, and a desire to utilise renewable energy.
“This is also an excellent opportunity for the North East to take a lead in converting skilled workers from oil and gas industries to future-proofed digital infrastructure and AI jobs.”
One of Blackdog’s strategic advantages as a site is its relative proximity to some of the UK’s most significant offshore wind developments, being advanced under the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds.
As such, Ashfield and TechRE are exploring the potential for private-wire connections to link the data centre directly to offshore wind farms.
On top of reducing the energy costs for Blackdog, this approach would deliver a significant shot in the arm for Scotland’s energy supply chain.
Currently, offshore wind projects are facing significant delays in securing grid connections, often waiting years to bring their turbines online. Blackdog offers a compelling alternative – a large-scale, local offtaker for renewable power that could accelerate deployment timelines.
By providing consistent, long-term demand for clean energy, the development could help unlock stalled projects and inject much-needed momentum into Scotland’s offshore wind pipeline.
Moreover, it would help address the growing issue of grid constraints – whereby operators are paid to switch off their turbines to curtail power – by providing an alternative demand centre, improving the utilisation of clean energy while reducing costly constraint payments.
Discussions are taking place between Ashfield and Cerulean Winds, which is developing three major floating offshore wind farms in the Central North Sea, over the feasibility of running a link between Blackdog and the initial Aspen windfarm.
Laura Jarvie, Head of Scotland at Cerulean said:
“Any offshore wind project of this scale requires stable long-term offtakers to underpin the investment case. As one of the UK’s first floating wind projects, Aspen will supply power to the grid for homes and communities, decarbonise oil and gas platforms and as the project scales up provide private wire power to other industrial users. AI data centres like Blackdog provide exactly that opportunity.
“This is about creating a mutually reinforcing system; clean power enabling digital growth, and digital demand accelerating renewable deployment.”
The North East has already established itself as Scotland’s third-largest hub for high-growth tech, with more than 300 companies making up roughly 11% of the nation’s tech sector.
This thriving industry supports around 4,400 jobs and generates over £520m annually, playing a vital role in driving regional prosperity and innovation.
Looking ahead, economic development agencies are aiming to accelerate the development of a dynamic, locally rooted digital economy in the North East, positioning the region as a globally recognised centre for industrial digital innovation, something Blackdog will be instrumental in achieving.
Commenting, ONE CEO, Jennifer Craw MBE, said:
“Global investment in AI hyperscale data centres is no longer constrained by demand, it’s constrained by access to reliable, large-scale green energy. That’s where the north east of Scotland stands apart.
“We have direct access to offshore wind, backed by decades of engineering expertise and an energy system built for delivery. At a time when hyperscalers are competing for access to power, that gives us a genuine competitive edge.
“This is about bringing together our strengths in energy and our growing cluster of digital tech businesses to establish the north east as a global hub for applied and industrial AI, creating high-value industries, skilled jobs and long-term economic growth.
“The opportunity is clear: to anchor the next generation of AI infrastructure where power is available, proven and ready to scale.”
At its core, Blackdog sits at the intersection of three defining national priorities: clean energy, digital infrastructure and economic transition.
Once up and running it would place Aberdeen alongside Nordic countries such as Norway and Sweden, which have successfully leveraged their renewable energy bounty to attract global data centre investment.
Digital technology is also one of the two core pillars of the planned North East Scotland Investment Zone – a 10-year, £160 million project to boost productivity, accelerate innovation-led business growth and provide more high-priority jobs in the region – making the timing of this transformative project even more apt.
Neil Young, Director of Investment and Development at ETZ Ltd, a not-for-profit private sector-led company spearheading energy transition across the North East of Scotland, said:
“This project aligns perfectly with the transition ambitions of the North East. We already have the skills, the supply chain and the industrial heritage. Blackdog adds a new dimension, creating a bridge between clean energy and digital infrastructure that can sustain high-value jobs for decades.”
ENDS
For more information please get in touch with Hamish Penman – hamish@truenorth.scot.
Notes to Editors
About Ashfield Land
Ashfield Land is a proven UK property company with over three decades of experience in maximising value across land, development and investment. Since 1990, the business has delivered a wide range of successful projects, building a strong and diverse portfolio that reflects its hands-on, value-driven approach.
The company specialises in identifying development opportunities, navigating complex planning environments and unlocking long-term value from its investments. Known for its entrepreneurial mindset, Ashfield Land acquires sites unconditionally, finds innovative solutions to challenges and consistently uncovers hidden potential.
About TechRe
TechRE Consulting is a boutique data centre advisory firm, providing strategic, commercial, and delivery expertise to investors, Governments, developers, and operators. Our perspective is grounded in direct experience from owning and operating data centre platforms, enabling us to deliver practical, execution-led advice across the entire asset lifecycle.
About Cerulean Winds
Cerulean Winds is a green energy and infrastructure developer that originates, develops, and delivers floating wind at scale. With exclusive seabed leases and contractor relationships in place, Cerulean Winds is leading the development of three 1GW floating windfarms Aspen, Cedar and Beech to provide power to industrial users and export capacity.
About Opportunity North East
Opportunity North East (ONE) is the private sector catalyst driving transformational change to diversify north east Scotland’s economy. More than 80 members drawn from the region’s business community, its two universities and colleges, and regional and national partners sit on the ONE main and sector boards, using their leadership and resources to drive growth and increase productivity, create jobs for the future and accelerate the just transition to net-zero. ONE has a 10-year £64 million funding commitment from The Wood Foundation and uses its resources to secure match funding to deliver new projects – turning opportunity and ambition into action and investment.
About ETZ Ltd
ETZ Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation operating on the basis of no commercial gain and with one over-riding goal; to protect and create as many jobs as possible ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for the North East and the people who live and work here. The Energy Transition Zone will support the creation of a world-leading hub for renewables energies – offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage – establishing a sustainable cluster of activity, jobs and skills. By 2030, ETZ Ltd will have designed and completed the phased development of the Zone creating 2,500 direct jobs and a further 10,000 in energy transition related jobs across the region.