Dear {name}

AI data centres have moved very quickly from being a future issue to a live planning issue for communities across Scotland.

The scale of the issue is clear. These are not routine planning applications. A single large AI data centre can require significant electricity, water, grid connections, land, road access and cooling infrastructure. With several live or imminent proposals now coming forward, decisions taken in one community can have wider national implications for energy use, climate targets, public infrastructure and local services.

This week I asked the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to bring forward planning guidance so that councils can properly assess the impact of AI data centres on local communities and the environment. I also pressed the point that, where these developments do go ahead, they should be District Heat Ready. Waste heat should not simply be wasted when it could help warm local homes and businesses.

My colleague Gary Bouse MSP has also raised the legitimate concerns of constituents in Falkirk West about the proposed Larbert development, and asked for clarity on what a “green data centre” actually means in environmental terms. That clarity is needed now, not in 2027.

These developments may bring investment and jobs, but communities need to know who benefits, who pays, and what protections are in place.

The First Minister’s answers on Thursday were significant. John Swinney recognised the public concern, the energy implications, and the difficulty of leaving decisions of this scale to local authorities without clear national guidance. He confirmed that the Government will look at the issue as a priority, including the balance between local decision-making and national oversight.

That is welcome, but it now has to move at pace. Scotland needs investment, but it must be planned properly, protect communities, and support our climate obligations.

Yours for Scotland,

Martyn Day

SNP Candidate for Falkirk East and Linlithgow

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