Apatura Ravenscraig - Action to Protect Rural Scotland

This data centre in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire is proposed to have a capacity of 550MW, the same energy demand as more than half a million homes. it is proposed for a large site on the former Ravenscraig steelworks close to Motherwell. They are taking the development forward under two separate applications and will not be required to do an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for either. The developer is Apatura. The site will also have a 650MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

Local Campaign Group

There is a local facebook page started by the community in Craigneuk, to the south of the Eastern of the two sites, but for anyone through the whole area who is affected by the proposals.

join the facebook group

APRS News and Investigations on the Ravenscraig Development

News

Ravenscraig AI data centre will displace 1000 homes

Plans for the 550MW AI data centre at Ravenscraig would displace 1000 homes which are in the current Masterplan for the area. North Lanarkshire council objected to previous plans for a freight terminal on the basis that the area should become homes, and an appeal to Scottish Ministers was rejected because it did not accord with the development plan.

data centre protest at scotttish parliament

Event

Campaigners plan rally at Holyrood

Local hyperscale data centre campaigners are planning a rally at Holyrood in the first week MSPs return after the summer break. Fourteen local campaigns are joining together on 3 September to bring people to the Parliament to meet MSPs.

Data Centre Map

We have made a map of the hyperscale data centre projects being planned in Scotland. Click on the map to find out information on the capacity, stage of planning, developer. And each proposed site has a dedicated webpage with more information including maps and plans, links to planning documents, and contact details of local campaign groups.

Interactive Map of the site and nearby features

We are piloting a new way of helping communities find out information about the places that hyperscale data centres are proposed. This is the first example of an interactive map – many new layers will follow as the tool develops. Thank you to Andrew Hall of Turbine Education for his inspiration and work to create this!

Click the picture to visit the map.

visit the interactive map

Developer website

The Developers Apatura have a website for the Ravenscraig Data Centre here:

ravenscraig developer website

Apatura consultation website

The website says: “The Ravenscraig campus is split across two areas, east and west, each with its own masterplan. The eastern site is larger and accommodates six data halls, while the smaller western plots host three buildings integrated into the local road network.”

Plan of the Western sites from the consultation webpage

The website says: “At Ravenscraig East, six data halls, substation facilities, and battery compounds will be positioned to respect natural features, topography, and key views. At Ravenscraig West, three smaller parcels will accommodate data halls and ancillary plant, carefully integrated into the constrained site layout.”

They say that the site will connect directly to high-capacity substations at Wishaw and Newarthill, and they say that “In June 2025, we secured a formal agreement with the electricity network operator NESO, confirming that the project can connect to the grid.”

14/08/2025 (PAN) or 03/07/2025 (EIASCR)

no documents associated with any dates earlier than 31/07/2025 (PoAN), and no decision documents

Environmental Impact Assessments

The two sites – East and West have been split for the purposes of the EIA Screening

See more information below:

The Western Site

The Eastern site

The Western Site

Environmental Impact Assessment Screening

25/00556/EIA

No EIA required (validated 10 June 2025 decided 3 July 2025)

The documents were not up on the council website until a local resident, ourselves and a journalist asked for them to be put up. In case they are subsequently been taken off again you can access all the documents below:

EIA documents from Planning Portal (West)

EIA_SCREENING_OPINION_-_LETTER-1887127

EIA_SCREENING_OPINION_REQUEST-2010711

EIA_SCREENING_REPORT-1884457

What is proposed? (from screening report)

“The scheme will require the creation of a new 275kv substation to be provided on site, connecting to the grid via two existing substations located at Newarthill and Wishaw.”

“The Proposed Development comprises a Data Centre campus with one or more buildings capable of 550MW of IT load with a total GEA footprint of c. 65,000 sqm, including ancillary office / employment floorspace, with emergency backup generators (with fuel storage). The proposals will utilise 1 to 2 storeys, increasing the total floorspace quantum accordingly, with a maximum height of c. 15m (not including chiller plant/flues). 3.5 In summary, the Applicant proposes the submission of an application for Planning Permission in Principle (PPP), which will comprise the following elements:

a new electricity substation (including transformers and switchgear) within a 5,000 sq.m
compound, with a GEA footprint of 720 sq.m and a maximum height of c. 15m;
650MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with associated infrastructure within a dedicated compound of c. 15,600 sq.m (consented separately via a S36 application to the Energy Consents Unit)”

The site will be adjacent to new housing that is planned and close ti existing housing in Motherwell.

The Eastern Site

Environmental Impact Assessment

25/00744/EIASCR

Validated 10 July Decided 18 July

No EIA Required

The total development area consists of 41.6 hectares which will include 5 no. data centre buildings and
ancillary infrastructure with a total GEA footprint of approximately 158,119.49 sqm, an electricity substation and a 400MW BESS is proposed on adjacent land and will be consented separately via a Section 36 application and does not form part of this current Screening Opinion

The Screening Report is not online and has been requested from the council.