Over 7000 objections against AI data centre plans for Scottish town as deadline looms

Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you. Search the Public Notice Portal What is the Public Notice Portal?What is the Public Notice Portal? The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood. Search the Public Notice PortalPLANS to build a “monster” AI data centre in Larbert, which would be metres away from a care home and houses, have received more than 7000 objections. Falkirk Council has set the closing date to object to the plans for Monday, as the proposal has drawn criticism from campaigners who claim it is the only application that is in danger of being approved without Scottish Government intervention. Many of those objecting to the proposal fear the data centre will create noise and pollution for the thousands of residents living nearby, including those in Forth Valley Hospital, while using an extremely high amount of water and energy. Developer Apatura has applied for planning permission for a 300 megawatts (MW) facility on around 55 acres of grassland next to an industrial estate in the town. READ MORE: Police threat as 'rare plant vanishes' from Scottish beach earmarked for golf course If approved, the centre would have its own electricity substation, as well as 200 industrial-scale diesel generators to provide back-up in case of a power failure or a lack of electricity. The site has been marked as likely to have a “major adverse” effect on operational and construction greenhouse gas emissions in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The developers have proposed several small-scale mitigation measures, including “maximising the use of natural sunlight”, using low-energy consumption settings and devices, and using electronic and mechanical equipment with a long effective lifespan. However, local residents and climate campaigners have raised concerns over the true scale of the site's impact. According to the planning application on the local authority’s website, 7164 comments were made regarding the proposal, with 7037 of them being objections, and 81 in support. It comes after Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad published a new direction for planning authorities on Monday, which will apply to data centre developments exceeding a power capacity of 50MW. Developers behind AI data centres will now have to publish Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), with planning authorities also having to notify Scottish ministers of any new applications submitted. Campaigners have welcomed the move as “common sense prevailing at last”, but the Scottish Greens warned it does not go far enough and a full moratorium should be put in place. The Scottish Government also ruled that proposals for Wester Hermiston Data Centre, in Edinburgh, and another in Auchtertool, Fife, will have to provide full EIA’s. Earlier this month, officials ruled that a full EIA is required for an AI data centre in South Gyle, also in Edinburgh. READ MORE: SNP Government issues categorical denial after Jenny Gilruth 'bullying email' claim When the plans for the Larbert site were submitted in June, the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition manager, Fraser Sutherland, who lives nearby in Falkirk, said: “Not only would this extra need for power put a severe strain on existing infrastructure, there is significant concern over the use of fossil fuel back-up generators at these sites.” He added: “Any new deployment of climate-warming oil and gas risks undoing Scotland's progress on cutting emissions, especially at the levels required for these power-hungry schemes.” Meanwhile, Hazel McQueen, who lives just 20 metres away from the proposed site, told the Local Democracy Reporter service that she and her neighbours have “grave concerns” about the impact the development would have. She said: “My concerns include significant noise pollution from cooling systems, plant equipment and backup generators operating both day and night. “I live right next to a busy road that leads onto the motorway but come 8 or 9pm the road can be very quiet. “This monster will operate 24/7 so the humming and vibrations will be felt and heard throughout the night.” McQueen, who has lived in Larbert all her life, has seen it transform from a small village into a large town, with the infrastructure often struggling to match the pace of development. She added that friends in the USA have alerted her that AI data centres are causing “major problems for locals”. “I think it’s preposterous that they are even considering building an AI Centre near so many homes. We don’t want this on our doorstep!” The Scottish Government has previously refused to comment on calls by campaigners to “call in” the application, with Goodlad saying they would not comment on individual proposals, but said that Scotland's AI strategy sets out expectations that data centre developments “should include steps” to ensure environmental sustainability. Share