Scotland Could House One in Five UK Data Centres

Key Points

• Despite only having 8% of the UK population, Scotland could be home to up to 20% of the UK’s data centres, according to a new report.
• This could equate to over 70 data centres in Scotland, with a capacity of approximately 16GW, which is equivalent to the power consumption of eight million UK homes, according to the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
• 24 data centre projects are currently proposed and publicly known in Scotland, with projects in a variety of pre-planning and planning stages.
• The most recent scheme is for the former IBM plant site at Spango Valley, Greenock, for a four-building data centre complex by Slate Island Developments with a footprint of approximately 80,000 sq m that has been submitted to Inverclyde Council.
• Owned by McGill’s Buses’ owners Sandy and James Easdale, who previously had planning issues raised against them for housing development on the land, the 70-acre site is owned by the pair.
• Data centre plans will need 80GW in total throughout the UK, according to Ofgem.
• There are confirmed plans for 4.5GW of data centres in Scotland, significantly less than the 16GW NESO forecasted.
• The Scottish Government has instructed local authorities to inform it of any plans to build large data centres and plans to release its next delivery programme for planning on 1 September.
• The UK Government recently announced a £300m investment to create an AI Growth Zone in North Lanarkshire.
• Friends of the Environment Scotland have been urging a ban on data centre building, saying the “unfair burden” is being imposed on Scotland.

Greenock (Britain Today News) August 31, 2026 — One in five of the UK’s data centres could end up being built in Scotland, according to a new report, with evidence suggesting many more facilities are in the pipeline than currently appear in the planning system. The findings come as a fresh application is lodged for the site of the former IBM plant in Greenock, adding to a growing list of 24 proposed and publicly known projects at various stages of planning and pre-planning across the country.

What does the new report say about Scotland’s data centres?

The report highlights a significant gap between the number of data centres already confirmed in Scotland’s planning system and the number that may ultimately be required to meet UK-wide digital demand. It draws on figures from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the body responsible for planning and operating the UK’s energy systems, which has stated that up to 20% of the UK’s data centres could be located in Scotland. This is despite Scotland making up just 8% of the UK’s total population, meaning the country would be taking on a disproportionately large share of this infrastructure relative to its size.

How many data centres could Scotland host under UK-wide projections?

Based on NESO’s estimate, Scotland could become home to more than 70 data centres to meet UK demand. This would represent 16GW of capacity, an amount of electricity equivalent to that used by eight million homes. NESO’s assessment was submitted as part of its formal response to the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into data centres, giving the projection added weight as it comes directly from the body responsible for balancing the UK’s energy system.

Where are data centres currently proposed across Scotland?

At present, there are 24 proposed and publicly known data centre projects at different stages of planning and pre-planning in Scotland. These range from early-stage pre-planning discussions to formal applications lodged with local authorities. The number is expected to grow further given the scale of demand outlined by NESO, and the Scottish Government has already instructed local authorities to notify it directly of any large-scale data centre proposals coming forward in their areas.

What is happening with the former IBM site in Greenock?

The most recent addition to Scotland’s data centre pipeline is a proposal for the site of the former IBM plant in Greenock. Slate Island Developments has submitted an application to Inverclyde Council to redevelop the vacant land at Spango Valley, which was occupied by IBM for 60 years before the plant closed in 2016. The buildings on the site were subsequently demolished in 2020, leaving a 70-acre plot that has remained largely unused since.

The site is owned by Sandy and James Easdale, the businessmen behind McGill’s Buses, who had previously attempted to bring forward plans for housing on the land but were unsuccessful in securing permission. The indicative proposal now put forward by Slate Island Developments includes four separate data centre buildings, providing approximately 80,000 sq m of floorspace in total.

How much energy would Scotland’s data centres require?

The scale of energy demand associated with these projects is substantial. Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, has said that data centre plans across the UK as a whole will require 80GW of capacity. Within Scotland specifically, current confirmed plans add up to 4.5GW. However, according to Friends of the Earth Scotland, this figure would need to rise to as much as 16GW to meet NESO’s projection of Scotland hosting 20% of UK data centres — meaning existing plans would need to more than triple.

Why are business groups and public bodies backing data centre growth?

Business groups and public bodies across Scotland are actively lobbying for more data centres to be built, viewing them as a critical piece of infrastructure needed to support technological change and to handle the rapidly increasing demand for digital and AI-related services. Data centres underpin everything from cloud computing and streaming services to artificial intelligence processing, and supporters argue that Scotland is well placed to attract investment given its renewable energy resources and available land.

This support has been reinforced at a UK Government level. Last week, the UK Government announced a £300 million investment in an AI Growth Zone in North Lanarkshire, signalling continued political and financial backing for expanding data centre and AI infrastructure in Scotland.

What concerns do local communities have about data centre developments?

Not all reaction to the growing pipeline of projects has been positive. Communities in areas earmarked for hyperscale data centre developments have expressed concerns about the potential impact of such large-scale facilities, including issues around energy consumption, water use, noise and the visual impact of vast industrial buildings on the landscape. However, it is understood that proposals for brownfield sites — such as the former IBM plant in Greenock — may be met with a more favourable response from local communities than developments proposed on greenfield or undeveloped land.

What has the UK Government announced for data centres in Scotland?

Beyond the £300 million AI Growth Zone investment in North Lanarkshire, the wider policy backdrop reflects a UK Government keen to position Scotland as a hub for data centre and AI infrastructure. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has taken a more cautious administrative approach, requiring local authorities to notify it of large-scale data centre proposals so that ministers can maintain oversight of developments with significant regional impact. The Scottish Government’s own planning delivery programme for the year ahead is due to be published on 1 September.
Explore More about Technology:
UK Backs Chip Startups OLIX and Callosum in Sovereign AI Push
UK and Irish Payroll AI Adoption Survey

What has Friends of the Earth Scotland said about the plans?

Friends of the Earth Scotland has been among the most vocal critics of the scale of expansion being projected. Kim Pratt, senior campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“It seems that current plans, which have already seen massive pushback against huge data centres across Scotland, are only the tip of the iceberg, and that numbers could triple to over 70 data centres in Scotland if UK projections are acted on.”

Ms Pratt went on to call directly on the Scottish Government to intervene ahead of its forthcoming planning publication, stating:

“The Scottish Government has an opportunity to stand up to Westminster by introducing a moratorium on data centres in its plans for the next year, which will be published tomorrow (1 September).”

She further argued that clearer guidance was needed for local authorities dealing with these applications, saying:

“Councils need guidance on these decisions so they can protect people and nature until proper safeguards on these monster developments are put in place.”

Addressing the balance of power between the Scottish and UK Governments, Ms Pratt added:

“The UK Government and its bodies are pushing data centres and their polluting and harmful impacts north of the border, creating an unfair burden for the people of Scotland. Planning powers are devolved so the UK Government has no right to do this.”

What happens next for data centre planning in Scotland?

With the Scottish Government’s planning delivery programme due for publication on 1 September, attention is now turning to whether ministers will introduce tighter controls, additional guidance for councils, or any form of moratorium on new data centre developments, as called for by campaigners. Given that current confirmed plans of 4.5GW fall well short of the 16GW that would be needed to meet NESO’s 20% projection, the coming months are likely to see further applications lodged, including additional brownfield proposals similar to the Greenock scheme. How the Scottish Government responds — and whether devolved planning powers are used to slow, shape or accelerate this growth — is likely to determine how many of Scotland’s proposed 70-plus data centres ultimately move from the drawing board to construction.