Since we started our Campaign on hyperscale data centres in October 2025 we have achieved a really good amount of media coverage of the campaign. These are listed below.

These unfortunately have the most recent stories at the bottom …

13 October

ipaper ‘Giant data centre could use as much power as every home in Glasgow and Edinburgh’

12 Oct

Data Centres ipaper in article about the new data centre coming in Edinburgh which will use the energy of over half a million homes. https://inews.co.uk/news/data-centre-power-home-glasgow-edinburgh-3973815

APRS Launch Hyperscale Data Centre Campaign 17 October

17 October – APRS’s First Press Release on data Centres

APRS Press Release

The National ‘Government Urged to restrict water hungry data centres’

Ayrshire today Country campaigners issue warning over Ayrshire AI Centre

Ayrshire advertiser  Country campaigners issue warning over Ayrshire AI Centre

28 October

Op Ed in Scotsman – Why AI data centres are a huge threat to our countryside

16 November

The Herald ‘Green Data Centres Could Derail Scotland’s Net zero plans’

the National (APRS Quoted) – Front Page story Scottish Government warned over AI data centre ‘bubble’ 

18 October

The Herald – Edinburgh’s AI boom: Is the impact of data centres being overlooked?

3 December

The Herald Do we really want to bust net zero targets for AI cat pics?

3 December Battery Storage Report launched

Special Feature in the Herald Call for moratorium over ‘huge oversupply’ of battery parks

Plus general press release: in The National Campaigners demand immediate halt to approving new battery storage projects, Scotsman Moratorium urged on battery storage sites as report claims STV Campaigners urge immediate halt to new battery storage

Also Many industry websites – Energy Storage Many local websites like Inverness Courier Moratorium urged on battery storage sites as report claims …

Radio 4 Farming Today, Radio Scotland Morning show, also BBC in the Highlands (scroll down to under reports to play)

December 2nd

Council to review if data centre requires an environmental assessment: The Edinburgh Reporter

18 December

APRS Press Relase

Data HQs to use Energy of Big Cities Daily record

Ministers urged to halt plans for humongous data centre: STV News and other outlets, including Inverness Courier

23 December

Scottish Government urged to intervene over Edinburgh AI Data Centre The National Deadline News and other outlets 

24 December

Revealed: 17 locations of Scotland’s new hyperscale data centres The Scotsman

26 December

Energy Requirements of Scotland’s planned data centres would require the energy for 4 Delorean Time hops. APRS Press Release

Lots of articles in most outlets on boxing day including: ‘Energy demand of data centres planned for Scotland ‘ridiculous’ The Herald with a half-page in the print version

and The Times ‘‘Great Scott!’: The ‘mind-blowing’ energy demand of Scotland’s new data centres’

lots of regional papers eg Forres Gazette

20 January

Onshore wind and Battery Parks: how much is enough? About our Battery storage report and planning authorities must catch up after NESO grid prioritisation. The Herald

21 January

Blog on SCCS website The Case against Hyperscale Data Centres

25 January – EXCLUSIVE in the National

Developers eye greenbelt sites for AI data centres: Double page spread in the National   

29 January AI Growth Zone

Aidrie AI growth zone expected to bring 8.2bh investment – Kat quoted The Herald

2 February Backup generators for Edinburgh Data Centre

APRS Press Release

Con­cerns over data centre’s fuel use for back-up gen­er­at­ors The Courier

Concerns over diesel fuel consumption of back-up generators at proposed data centres The Herald

Campaigners mount last-ditch bid to block data centre at former RBS HQ Data Centre Review

‘100K idling cars’ fears of Edinburgh Data centre The Scotsman

Hearing for huge Edinburgh Data centre to take place next week Deadline news 

Opponents Rally Against Data Centre Plans at Former RBS HQ Silicon Flash

Con­cerns over data centre’s fuel use for back-up generators Courier 

Opponents Rally Against Data Centre Plans at Former RBS HQ The Herald

3 February – Polling shows support for Green Belts and Countryside (launch of our centenary with a survey joint with CPRE)

APRS Press Release

Polling Finds “near universal support” for protection of Green Belt land STV The Daily Mail, Paisley Daily Express and probably other places…

Op Ed on AI and Data Centres

Scotland can halt AI juggernaut with this secret weapon Op Ed by Kat in the National

‘Greenwashing’ warning ahead of crunch Scottish AI centre decision The National

4 February – Reactions to rejection of planning application for hyperscale data centre in Edinburgh 

APRS Press Release

Council rejects South Gyle AI data centre  The National

Edinburgh City Council rejects South Gyle AI data centre  The Herald

Edinburgh Council refuses planning permission for AI data centre   Holyrood Magazine

Controversial data centre thrown out by councillors Edinburgh Evening News

12 February

The National US tech giants in lobbying blitz of Scottish Parliament

1 March 2026

Could a huge data centre revitalise Ayrshire – or ruin it? BBC news APRS quoted

2 March Launch of APRS’s Data Centre Map

APRS Press Release

Scottish Government must ‘get a grip’ on data centre planning applications  The National LBC The Evening Standard, Border Telegraph

Ministers must ‘get a grip’ on data centres Yahoo Finance

Action to Protect Rural Scotland calls for data centre moratorium Data Centre Review

6 March Farming Today, Radio 4

Bishopriggs Data centre

9 March SCCS join calls for data centre Moratorium

SCCS Press Release

Data Centre Review, The National, The Herald, and lots of other places including: Europe says, Ireland live

Guardian Investigation into AI growth zones

APRS provided information about the Lanarkshire AI growth zone. Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’ The Guardian

15 March APRS Jobs and Data Centres Report

This got a huge amount of coverage across UK news outlets

And a long read with lots of analysis in the Herald. 

STV, the Independent, The National, The Times (see below), Express, and most other places – but we don’t have media monitoring to see where they all are.

17 March

Quoted in a piece on Rachel Reeves announcement that UK will become a leader in AI. UK ‘very far’ from AI roll out promised by Rachel Reeves, experts say

20 March Moratorium Vote at Edinburgh City Council

APRS Press statement

Edinburgh City Council move towards data centre moratorium The Herald, The National, Daily Business Group, Edinburgh Inquirer, The Student, Data Centre review, ​

22 March Special feature on hyperscale data centres

Scotland on Sunday special about the data centre campaign in Hurlford and the whole data centre campaign 

12 April Exclusive on Jobs figures at AI Growth Zone.

Sunday Mail (Daily Record) UK Gov slammed over ‘fantasy’ job figures for £8.2bn Scots data centre tied to US billionaire

13 April Special on the companies behind the hyperscale data centres planned in Scotland – front page headline

The National Who is Building Scotland’s huge new AI data centres?

20 April APRS quote on press release on new ‘multigigawatt’ data centre in Blackdog, Aberdeen

The National Plans for multi-billion-pound data centre and AI campus in Aberdeen

22 April Commentary on the Aberdeen Data Centre announcement

The Scotsman Plans unveiled for ‘multi-gigawatt’ data centre near Aberdeen

The Herald So is this what our offshore wind is for? Data centres?

27 April

The National Edinburgh data centre appeal launched despite climate harm fears

28 April

Holyrood Magazine – Kat interviewed for a piece called: Data centres: Balancing economic growth and environmental concern

2 May

The ipaper The city trying to ban giant data warehouses that use the energy of more than a milllion homes

4 May APRS report on the extent of AI Growth zone developments and calls for transparency

• STV Campaigners reveal concerns over data centre ‘greengrab’ of land
• The National Anger over plans to expand Scotland’s only AI growth zone on green belt land
• Herald Con­cerns over AI data centre ‘green­grab’ of land
• Scotsman Campaigners fear Scottish data centre ‘greengrab’ of land
• Daily record Campaigners want more transparency around AI growth zone in North Lanarkshire

18 May

The Guardian More than 100 UK datacentres plan to burn gas to generate electricity: Reporting from the ‘All Energy’ conference in Glasgow where panel discussions talked about the need for ‘behind the meter’ gas generation for new hyperscale data centres

21 May

The National More than 100 UK data centres plan to burn gas for power (including comment on the Blackdog data centre in Aberdeen and potential need for gas power)

25 May APRS press release on the climate impact of AI data centres being ignored in Scottish Government greenhouse emissions of ‘green data centre’ policy

• The Independent Government slammed for ‘shocking’ failure on hyperscale data centre emissions
• The National Scottish Government urged to improve data centre policy
• The Guardian Scotland’s ‘green datacentres’ policy ignores emissions impact of AI, analysis shows
• The Scotsman SNP Ministers under fire over AI data centres ‘major shortcomings’ over climate impacts

28 May APRS Press in advance of the energy debate in the Scottish Parliament on 600MW data centre at Auchtertool

• The National Outrage as huge AI data centre planned near Fife village
• The Herald Campaigners oppose 600MW data centre planned in Fife
• The Courier Fife residents’ backlash against giant AI data centre on edge of village
• Also this was included in the National’s political newsletter the evening before the debate -Can it really be Scotland’s Energy if it is used to power Silicon Valley’s AI models?

3 June

Data Centre Dynamics ILI files to develop 600MW data centre in Fife, Scotland

6 June

• The National This interactive map shows the rise of AI data centres
• The Times Are data centres Scotland’s economic saviour or a white elephant?
• The Courier ‘Monster’ Fife data centre would be as tall as 12 storey building and cover 100 football pitches

3 June

• Data Centre Dynamics ILI files to develop 600MW data centre in Fife, Scotland

10 June

The National Application made for third huge data centre in Scotland despite emission warnings

14 June

Sunday Mail Vast AI data centres planned for Scotland spark fury amid ‘Olympic-level greenwashing’

The National AI data centre book reveals ‘democratic deficit’ in Scotland’s Planning System

Falkirk Herald Residents up in arms about AI data centre proposed for Larbert

The National US campaigner warns Scotland about AI data centre boom

17 June Edinburgh Council call for nationwide moratorium

• The Herald Edinburgh Councillors cal for a nationwide data centre moratorium
• The National Edinburgh Council to formally request AI data centre ban
• The Edinburgh News Edinburgh council calls for Scottish Government moratorium on ‘green’ data centres

18 June

The National: AI data centre would be a ‘top 10 polluter’ by Petra Matijevic

19 June APRS Press Data Centre campaign hits First Minister’s Questions

• The National John Swinney refuses to halt AI data centres amid ‘free-for-all’
• Holyrood Magazine greens-call-for-pause-on-data-centre-approvals-until-national-strategy-created
• The Cool Down Residents push back at Data Centres

21 June

the Sunday Mail John Swinney told to halt ‘hyperscale’ AI data centre plans amid fears of mass pollution 21/06/2026

23 June Community campaigns rally ahead of PQs at Holyrood to demand moratorium on hyperscale AI data centres

• The National Scottish Government accused of being ‘caught out’ on AI data centre regulation
• The National: Communities to rally at Holyrood to demand action against AI data centre boom
• The Herald: Impacted communities call for hyperscale AI data centres ban

24 June: First Minister questioned on hyperscale AI data centres

• The Herald: John Swinney considers hyperscale AI data centre guidance
• Edinburgh Evening News: Edinburgh MP Scott Arthur urges speedy guidance on data centres and says community voice is vital
• The Planner: Scottish Government considers planning guidance for hyperscale data centres

29 June

the National: A SECOND Scottish council has called for a moratorium on new large-scale “green data centres” until an official definition is agreed upon.

30 June APRS press release: Final call for Objections for Larbert and Auchtertool AI Data Centres

• The Scotsman: Thousands object to ‘humungous’ data centres as deadline looms
• Fife Today Deadline looms for public to have their say on plans for huge data centre in Fife
• Daily Record: Campaigners against humungous AI data centres urge Scots to submit objections
• also on radio and in other papers

1 July Final call for Objections for Larbert and Auchtertool AI Data Centres – APRS press relase

• The Scotsman: Thousands object to ‘humungous’ data centres as deadline looms
• Fife Today Deadline looms for public to have their say on plans for huge data centre in Fife
• Daily Record: Campaigners against humungous AI data centres urge Scots to submit objections
• also on radio and in other papers

30 June/6 July Susan Boyle Protests at Larbert Data Centre site

• The Daily Mail SuNo! Susan Boyle joins protest against plans for a massive AI data centre near her new home
• The Sun DATA WITH DESTINY: Susan Boyle reveals why she was spotted at huge public protest as she hits out at controversial AI data centre plan.

5 July APRS story: Second AI Growth zone site planned in South Lanarkshire, FoI reveals

The Herald (5 July 2026) ‘Extremely Concerning’: Anger over revelation controversial Scottish data centre could be extended.

5 July SNP call for a temporary ban on Hyperscale AI Data centres

• 5 July The National SNP call for temporary ban on AI data centre developments
• The Guardian Scotland could freeze datacentre projects in challenge to UK’s AI strategy
• 6 July Architects’ Journal: Scotland could pull plug on datacentre overdevelopment
• The National: AI data centre anger now impossible to ignore at Holyrood
• Fife Today: Data centre moratorium bid is welcome, important step – David Torrance MSP
• 7 July The Herald: Is a moratorium how we cope with the speed of the data centre boom?
• 8 July Holyrood Magazine: Scotland could block hyperscale data centres
• Computing: Scottish datacentre pause proposal puts UK AI strategy under pressure
• Computer Weekly: SNP council backs datacentre halt and creates Burnham dilemma
• Envirotec Magazine: Scotland weighs data centre moratorium as concerns grow over AI energy demand
• The Canary: The Scottish National Party (SNP) has announced plans to support a pause on all new AI data centre developments
• The National Podcast
  

The Backlash

• The Scotsman: SNP ministers urged to take AI data centre planning decisions away from local government
• The Herald: Sandy Begbie: Data centres are national infrastructure

The backlash to the backlash

• 10 July Daily RecordCall to take data centre decision away from councils is slammed

6 July – Two Guardian Articles in a Double page spread

The Guardian ‘It’s smoke and mirrors’: hope turns to fear in Scottish village chosen for AI data centre

The Guardian: Revealed: landmark Scottish AI project has no prospect of meeting renewables promise

follow up articles in:

• 3 July Morning Star: The renewables case for AI data centres being built is bunk
• 7 July Energy Digital: Will CoreWeave launch its Scottish data centre on time?
• 6 July Memeburn: UK AI growth zone vs Scotland reality

OTHER

10 July The Herald: Scotland needs to hit pause on the data centre boom

10 July  The Herald Data Centres in Scotland – all you need to know

13 July

The Herald AI data centres in Scotland: why unions fear a new Luddite moment (slightly confusing title – this is a comment piece from STUC supporting the campaign for a Moratorium)

11 July

Daily Mail Invasion of the AI Monsters: Heading to a town near you… vast US-funded data centres that need more power than a small country and have sparked a Wild West-style land grab, with campaigners now fearing they could prove a toxic menace to public health. Double page spread plus half a page.

15 July

Bloomberg Troubled $20 Billion Data Center Shows UK’s Struggle in AI Race. link to APRS Data centre map and a couple of quotes. Key quote from Scottish Government takes us further along line to a moratorium “The Scottish Government is currently reviewing what action can be taken to help balance the rapid expansion of such centers with our national energy and climate goals — including a potential pause on applications,”

15 July

The Courier: EXCLUSIVE: Man behind £5bn Fife AI data centre fears plan is in doubt

23 July Hunterston data Centre protest ‘defend our castle

• The National Three-day protest against AI data centre planned for 900-year-old Scottish estate
• The Herald Scottish clan urged to ‘defend’ 900-year-old castle from data centre
• The Telegraph – a note in this article: Data Centre Projects face crackdown to free up grid

29 July

Financial Times (front page snippet and then p3.) Scottish data centre boom spurs backlash

follow up interviews on LBC, STV and on Fife live drivetime

BBC Data centres could pay hundreds of millions in deposits for power demands (APRS map referenced)

2 Aug
The Sunday Mail Mandelson-linked banker and Russian Oligarch’s son in law behind data centres

3 August

The National Environmental Impact Assessment needed for South Gyle AI data centre

The Big issue As data centres encroach in the UK, this is no time for stoicism

4 August

This story was initially in the National Heughan speaks out against AI data centre boom

• and subsequently covered in:
• East Lothian Courier, and many other local papers

6 August

The Herald Proposed hyperscale data centre in Argyll “stalled if not halted”

Financial Times Data centres vs housing: how London became a central battleground (Mention of our data but not us)

11 August

The National ‘Council passed caller’s details on to AI data centre firm’

12 August Campaigners renew calls for moratorium on hyperscale data centres APRS Press Relase

• The Herald Campaigners urge Scotland to pause hyperscale data centres plans
• The Daily Express ‘Disastrous effects’ of hyperscale data centres set out in warning to John Swinney
• STV Swinney urged to meet campaigners demanding pause on hyperscale data centres
• Interview on Radio Scotland – Lunchtime News

17 August

the Guardian ‘Police Scotland warns ‘robust security’ needed to stop attacks on AI datacentres’

18 August

Channel Four News – Auchtertool and Chapelhall data centre proposals and APRS feature in this News piece

The National: Are 3400 jobs really on the way from Scotland’s AI Growth Zone?

19 August

APRS Press release: ‘Government starting to listen to us’ say campaigners as planning direction on hyperscale data centres is issued

• The National: Scottish Government intervenes in AI data centre boom
• Edinburgh Live Decision on Edinburgh data centre building to be made by Scottish Government
• Central Fife Times Government say environmental impact assessment required for Auchtertool data centre
• Daily Mail Now SNP back rules to mon­itor the march of large AI data centres… but not a morator­ium
• BBC Scotland Lunchtime Live (19 Aug)

25 August

Times Radio – Kat speaks with Adam Vaughan, Times Environment Editor

28 August FiveLive 6am Morning Show

24 August –

APRS Press Release: Community Campaigns write to First Minister to demand immediate moratorium

Forth FM/ Clyde FM

Scottish Daily Express: ‘Huge support’ for pause on new data centres, claim campaigners

Edinburgh News Campaigners fighting to stop Edinburgh data centre being built in Wester Hermiston have ‘huge public support

The National: ‘Huge sup­port’ for pause on new AI data centres

24 August

The Sunday Post Pro­posed data centres will require massive amounts Of power and cause huge dis­rup­tion, but could unlock Scot­land’s poten­tial

The National series on data centres.

• 21 August – Op Ed by Kat – Why we’re urging John Swinney to place moratorium on AI data centres
• 21 August What it’s been like reporting on AI data centres for months
• 22 August The National set to launch investigation into AI data centres
• 25 August Inside the AI data centre lobbying campaign sweeping through Holyrood
• 23 August Scottish Government ‘cosying up’ to AI data centre lobbyists
• 24 August What does the expansion of AI data centres mean for Scotland?
• 24 August Why are Scottish communities opposing AI data centre plans?
• 27 August This is how we can regulate data centres in Scotland
• 27 August Here’s why you shouldn’t believe the data centres hype
• Podcast: Interview between Jamie Calder of the National and Kat Jones
• Podcast: We answer your questions about Scotland’s AI data centres

23 August

The Ferret What makes a data centre ‘green’? One major developer has lobbied for its own definition

30 August 2026

the Herald ‘Outrage’. Will Argyll pumped storage hydro power Fife data centre?

end