EDINBURGH Council will not pursue a temporary ban on AI data centre development, but will instead request a moratorium from the Scottish Government after a report found it would be legally and practically difficult for the local authority to impose one.
The council initially voted in favour of pursuing a ban in March after plans for a 600MW data centre in South Gyle were rejected , with councillors telling the developer that the application did not make clear how it would meet certain thresholds for local frameworks and that its environmental impact was not clear.
Today, Edinburgh council’s planning committee agreed to formally ask the Scottish Government for a moratorium on new data centres until a definition of "green data centre" – promised for 2027 and crucial to interpreting the national planning framework – is decided on.
Green Planning spokesperson Alex Staniforth, who proposed the amendment containing the request, said: “It would be better if we had the power to instigate a moratorium ourselves but it’s clear we can’t, so we’re asking the Scottish Government to do so instead.
“We’ve also started the process of coming up with our own, local, definition of what a ‘green’ data centre would look like which we’ll be consulting on in due course. Hopefully this will send a message to the Scottish Government that councils are serious about needing a definition of ‘green’ data centres.
“The national planning framework was written before ChatGPT and large, AI supporting data centres existed. A majority of committee agreed with the Greens that we must meet the moment and update our position to suit the needs of today.”
The Green amendment was combined with a LibDem addendum asking for a meeting with the relevant minister and supported by the Lib Dems, Greens and SNP.
The term "green data centre" is referenced in Scottish planning regulation that classifies data centre developments as nationally important infrastructure, which campaigners have warned may give data centre developments favourable weighting in planning debates.
The move comes after a feasibility report found that “It is not possible to prohibit the submission of valid data centre applications," in part because they are supported by the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).
Environmental campaign group Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) has said that a lack of a definition makes it more difficult for planning officials to make informed decisions about new developments.
The Scottish Government offers no definition of what it means, or any requirements for a centre to be classed as green, and instead has said this decision sits with local authorities.
The framework was also designed in 2022 and published in early 2023, before the widespread expansion of large-scale AI infrastructure and demand for the technology. Instead, it was primarily intended to support smaller facilities underpinning cloud computing and digital services.
This also means that the predicted impacts relating to energy consumption and carbon emissions from their growth is significantly lower than the expected increase caused by AI.
Sarah Matthews, a campaigner against the Herminston data centre, who spoke at the planning meeting said: "It is clear from discussions at today’s Edinburgh planning committee meeting that the impacts of hyperscale data centres are too important to make rushed and poor decisions. These choices will impact everyone now and in years to come.
"It is a very complex topic which we simply do not know enough about yet and is being moved through planning at pace by developers. Whilst progress is important we must pause and understand what we are dealing with and all future impacts for the people of Scotland.”
In her representation, Matthews likened the “developer gold rush” to fracking and said the Government needs to put in place a moratorium just as they did then.
Kat Jones, director of APRS, added: "In the discussions at the planning committee it was clear that the current Government position of not having a definition of a green data centre is unworkable.
"The Gyle data centre is the first of many coming through the planning system and the campaigners in Edinburgh are the canaries in the coal mine.
"It is essential that the Scottish Government put a moratorium on all hyperscale data centres immediately while they sort out this mess."
Since the South Gyle site entered the planning application process two other data centre sites have done the same, with more than 25 sites being actively considered across Scotland.
These include huge developments in Fife, Falkirk , Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders, with communities rallying against many of the proposals.
In the Scottish Borders more than 10,000 people have signed a petition against the Lammermuir Hills data centre plan, while more than 3000 people have done the same for the village of Auchtertool, Fife.
The Scottish Government previously did not respond to questions regarding the lack of definition or requirements for "green" data centres under NPF4 , instead saying: “Scotland has significant strengths as a location for green data centres – abundant renewable energy, a highly skilled workforce and a resilient fibre backbone.
“Our aim is to secure commercial investment in data centres that help drive economic growth while aligning with Scotland’s net zero ambitions and delivering benefits for communities.”
Answering a question in parliament about how a "green data centre" can be defined, former public finance minister Ivan McKee said: "It will be for the planning authority to interpret and apply NPF4 according to the circumstances of each individual case.
"To be considered a green data centre, planning authorities may wish to consider criteria such as the extent to which the data centre is powered from renewable energy sources; makes use of energy efficient technologies; seeks to minimise water consumption; and supports the re-use of excess heat."
The full report on the feasibility of creating a green data centre definition can be found here.
