Final call for Objections for Larbert and Auchtertool AI Data Centres

Campaigners are encouraging people to contribute their comments and objections to planning applications for two Scottish hyperscale AI data centres before a deadline of 2^nd July.

A deadline for comments and objections on two hyperscale AI data centres is looming. The two data centres, one in Auchtertool, Fife and the other in Larbert, Falkirk, would, between them, require 900MW of power, just under a quarter of Scotland’s peak power demand.

The planning portal for the Larbert application has a counter for the number of objections submitted and it is currently sitting at over 3100. Signatures on the community’s petition to stop the Fife data centre are nearly at 5000.

Campaigners in Larbert and Auchtertool have reported unprecedented interest in the planning applications with a local meeting held at Larbert on 17 June packing out the local hall with over 200 people attending.

The applications for full planning (Larbert) and planning permission in principle (Auchtertool) were published on 5 June and 21 May respectively but both have the same deadline for public comments of 2 July.

Campaigners from across Scotland came together on 24 June outside Holyrood for a rally ahead of Portfolio questions which saw three questions and four supplementary questions put to cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin on the subject of hyperscale AI data centres. Campaigns in Dunbar, Hurlford, Chapelhall, Edinburgh (Gyle and Hermiston), Hunterston, Bishopbriggs,  Larbert and Auchtertool were represented. The following day saw John Swinney defend the government position in First Ministers Questions.

APRS, which is calling for a moratorium on hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland until governance and policy frameworks are fit for purpose, will be objecting to both applications. They have already submitted their objection to the Auchtertool planning application arguing that the plans go against the objectives of the local development plan and the national planning framework, and that there is insufficient information provided on a number of elements of the application.

Andrea Cail Chair of Auchtertool Community Council said:

“Our campaign has brought together Auchtertool and surrounding communities. We have leafleted, developed banners, held meetings, spoken with our elected councillors, MSPs, MP and the media. Everyone has contributed from school children to our older residents. Conversations in person, on social media and by letter have united behind one aim; to urge Fife Council to reject this proposal and refuse planning permission in principle for a 600 MW data centre on the edge of our village.

“These Hyperscale AI data centres are so huge and use so much energy and water that they are not just a local issue. They obviously have terrible impacts locally (the Auchtertool development has a footprint bigger than the village itself) but the impacts on climate emissions, air pollution, and on Scotland’s energy grid and electricity prices is going to impact the whole of Scotland. This is why we are calling on people everywhere to stand with us to oppose this development.”

Tasha Marsden of the Larbert Campaign said:    

The opposition to this proposal just keeps growing. We have more than 3,000 objections on the Falkirk council planning portal and hundreds more stream in every day.

Our community have spent two weeks fighting the big tech machine tooth and nail. In stolen moments between teatime and bedtime, volunteers pen Facebook comments, write objections, frantically print and distribute flyers. In the street, locals stop their friends and neighbours to tell them about the proposed AI data centre. In community halls we have organised and reminded everyone that their voice and their opinion matters.

If anyone is still to write an objection, the clock is ticking down. We are encouraging everyone to submit their opinion, engage in the planning process and make their voices heard.”

Hazel Mackie, who lives next to the planned Data Centre said:

“To see so many people take the time to object to this Ai Data Centre is amazing.  It gives me hope that this can be stopped if we all come together.  Our voices really can be heard.

This campaign has never been about stopping progress or being against Ai.  It’s about asking whether this is the right development in the right place.  We are all standing together against Big Tech for our families and businesses who could be affected.”

So if you’ve been thinking about submitting an objection but just haven’t got round to it yet, please  please don’t leave it too late. Every single objection counts.  🙏 It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a real difference.

Kat Jones of APRS said:

“Each of these two hyperscale data centres are absolutely humungous, between them they would draw a quarter of Scotland’s current peak electricity demand. As well as the massive impacts they have on the local communities, their vast energy use will have implications for our grid, our climate  emissions, and our energy prices. And all this is just to support US tech companies’ AI ambitions.

“This is something that matters to everyone in Scotland and we are encouraging anyone who feels strongly about hyperscale AI data centres to respond to these applications directly via the relevant planning portal.  

“In addition to objecting to hyperscale AI data centres as they come through the planning system we are calling for a moratorium from Scottish Government until research on the impacts,  and policy can catch up with this AI juggernaut.”

More Information:

More information on the Auchtertool application

More information on the Larbert application

Links for objections are:

For Objections for the Larbert Application.

For Objections to Auchtertool application

APRS’s objection to the development at Auchtertool

Photos taken at the rally ahead of Parliamentary Questions on Wednesday 24^th June