'Never seen this level of objection': Scotland pushes back against datacentres
Scotland is experiencing significant public opposition to the construction of massive data centers, with some projects facing thousands of objections. The Scottish government is reportedly considering a moratorium on such developments due to concerns over land use and infrastructure.
Why it matters
The backlash in Scotland reflects a broader global challenge where the physical infrastructure required for AI growth clashes with local environmental and community interests.
A protest outside Holyrood in June against proposed datacentres across Scotland. A protest outside Holyrood in June against proposed datacentres across Scotland. Datacentres - UK ‘Never seen this level of objection’: Scotland pushes back against datacentre boom Holyrood ‘inching towards moratorium’ amid concerns over massive proposed developments in Auchtertool and beyond
Aisha Down Global technology reporter Tue 25 Aug 2026 01.00 EDT Last modified on Tue 25 Aug 2026 05.22 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google In a village 21 miles north of Edinburgh, a real estate consultancy plans to build a datacentre larger than the village itself – 35 metres high, with an area larger than 100 football pitches.
Billed as the second-biggest datacentre in the world, the development in Auchertool, Fife, has attracted 1,600 objections.
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