Large data centre applications are set to face more stringent
environmental requirements.
The Scottish Government has published a planning direction which
requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted
during planning for all new data centres with a power capacity
exceeding 50 megawatts (MW).
This follows a direction last month requiring planning
authorities to notify Scottish Ministers of all new data centre
applications within seven days of validation.
Public Finance Minister said:
The Scottish Government recognises that data centres are a
rapidly evolving sector attracting a broad range of views,
opinions and concerns, and that evidence on the environmental
impact of data centres continues to develop.
As this is an emerging industry, we have the opportunity to get
this right from the start. The guidance issued today is the next
step in that process.
We must balance the economic and employment interests in
developing data centres with national energy, climate and
community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our
future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local
communities.
Ensuring that an Environmental Impact Assessment is always part
of the application process will create a level playing field for
developers and will ensure potentially significant environmental
effects are considered from the outset.
Background
The Town
and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Data
Centres exceeding 50MW Power Capacity) (Scotland) Direction
2026
The new direction has been developed with input from the Scottish
Science Advisory Council (SSAC), Scotland's highest level science
advisory body. It provides independent advice and recommendations
on science strategy, policy and priorities, through its Chair, to
the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland and to Scottish
Ministers.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a means of drawing
together, in a systematic way, an assessment of the likely
significant environmental effects arising from a proposed
development.
Where a planning application does not meet the 50MW threshold and
falls outwith the scope of the direction, it must still be
considered under established EIA regulations. This means the need
for EIA would be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance
with existing legislative criteria, taking into account the
circumstances of the case.
