World’s second-biggest data center proposed in Scotland meets “huge” opposition — and it's part of a wider trend across the United Kingdom

The world’s second-largest data center has been proposed to be built next to the tiny historic town of Auchertool in Fife, Scotland.

The proposed data center would cover over 170 acres - covering a footprint larger than the town itself - with a 600MW capacity, making it the second largest operational data center upon completion, just a few acres behind Nevada’s Citadel Campus.

The project has attracted over 1,600 objections.

“The public pressure is huge,” said David Torrance, Scottish parliament member for Kirkcaldy.

“I’ve never seen this level of objection to a local plan, and I have been in politics for 25 years" (via The Guardian ).

A moratorium may dawn on Scotland As the Scottish Parliament is set to resume after the summer break, data centers are likely to be a major topic of conversation within Holyrood.

Auchertool isn’t alone in facing down a data center, with Airdrie and Larbert also opposing local developments.

Scotland is prime real estate for data centers as the country produces over one quarter of the UK’s total electricity production.

Coupled with low land prices and a naturally cooler climate, it is no surprise that data center developers are being drawn north of the border to meet the capacity required for the UK’s AI strategy.

But a spanner could be thrown in the works if the Scottish parliament decides to pass a moratorium on data centers.

There is already talk of heavily regulating new data center developments.

Scotland’s minister for public finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad, has already issued new rules requiring planning authorities to notify the government of any development larger than 50MW.

Some data centers will also have to submit an environmental assessment.

Campaigns against data centers are already being planned, with a demonstration in Edinburgh expected to take place in early September once the Scottish parliament has returned.