PLANS for an AI date centre campus in the Forth Valley have been proposed, as developers hope the project could create more than 1500 jobs.
A proposal of application notice by the UK-based firm Apatura has been submitted to both Stirling Council and Falkirk Council.
Apatura have proposed to create an AI data centre campus with a 300MW capacity on land next to the A9 and between Plean and Torwood, outside Stirling.
Along with the AI data centre plans also outline a proposal to build a car park, roads, access, associate works along with various landscaping.
The application says that AI data centres are “vital” to the UK’s digital and economic infrastructure and help process large amounts of information by using artificial intelligence which helps power organisations like NHS online services and national security operations.
Apatura said the proposed campus would represent a “major investment” in both the local and regional economy if approved, as they estimate it would generate £2.1 billion total capital investment.
The firm added that with £189 million projected for the construction spend earmarked for the local supply chain it would create around 1500 jobs across Scotland annually, with 395 of them being made locally across the four-year construction period.
Plans for the centre have entered a 12-week pre-application consultation process with a public consultation meeting planned for September 3 and October 7 at Glenbervie House & Country Estate organised by Apatura.
The proposed site at Old Plean comprises approximately 43.1 hectares in total and is located within the administrative area of Stirling Council and Falkirk Council.
Bannockburn councillor, Alasdair Macpherson, whose ward includes the proposed site, said that it’s “vital that the community take a real interest in this consultation”, saying that, if approved, the proposal could “bring cutting edge technology and very exciting jobs to the local area.”
Cllr Macpherson added: “It’s my job as local councillor to ensure that if the developers decide to submit a formal application that the proposal is compliant with the Local Development Plan, the local community extracts the maximum benefit from the development and disruption is kept to a minimum, if it was to eventually get consent”.
With more than 15 years' worth of industry experience, Apatura develops and operates large-scale energy and digital infrastructure with a focus on projects that “unlock lasting value” for local communities.
The firm specialises in clean power, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and data centre–ready sites.
