Holyrood backs not a moratorium but a ‘pause’ on datacentres

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The Scottish Greens had tabled a motion calling for an outright moratorium amid growing fears from communities across the country over a raft of applications making their way through councils’ planning systems.

Concerns centre on the sites’ huge consumption of water and, in particular, electricity, with applications currently in train potential drawing as 1.5 times Scotland’s peak power demand. 

Public Services Minister Hannah Goodlad, however, rejected the moratorium call, arguing is was not necessary and would “send the wrong message to anyone looking to invest in Scotland.”

After she assured MSPs that guidance would be issued by Christmas, the Green motion was defeated 72 to 32, but an amendment from Labour economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson calling for a “pause” until that guidance was in place did pass.

Welcoming the result, Mr Johnson said: “Scotland has huge strengths in data science and energy but we need a real plan to ensure we benefit from new developments.

“It is right that the SNP government has accepted the need for national guidance before more decisions are made and I want to see that guidance delivered with the urgency needed.”

Hailing the outcome as a “landmark day for all those communities,” Action to Protect Rural Scotland director Dr Kat Jones said: “It’s great that Scottish ministers and the Parliament as a whole have now endorsed text that says no decisions on planning or consenting should be made until that guidance and strategy is complete.

“That means Scottish government must now urgently call in those applications which are approaching a decision date. The communities will expect nothing less.”