Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 June 2026 [Draft]
24 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Data Centres (Cumulative Impact Assessment)
Rufus AI data centre, which was proposed at Hurlford in my constituency, will use the equivalent power output of the United Kingdom’s largest wind farm, Whitelee. Twenty-four data centres are proposed across Scotland, which is why there is a call for a centralised impact assessment. Can the cabinet secretary explain how the assessments that are being undertaken will feed into individual planning assessments?
Is she aware that my local authority of East Ayrshire is seeking clarification on what constitutes green data centres? Indeed, it is looking for guidance on assessing planning applications, which are applications only in principle and do not have enough detail from developers who are looking to get approvals and to flog those centres for a quick buck.
In the same item of business
Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to carry out a cumulative impact assessment of the number of planning applications proposed for artificial in...
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Alan Brown will have heard my answers to previous questions on the issue of a cumulative assessment. We are taking a whole-system approach to understanding t...
Alan Brown
SNP
Rufus AI data centre, which was proposed at Hurlford in my constituency, will use the equivalent power output of the United Kingdom’s largest wind farm, Whit...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I am aware that local authorities and planning departments are calling for a little more clarity. In the AI strategy, we already committed to publishing guid...
Laura Moodie (South Scotland) (Green)
Green
Six of the current proposed 24 data centres are in my region. The amount of detail for each one and the planning stage that they are at vary hugely. The very...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I will be honest: I will not support a moratorium on that, because we feel that planning regulations are already in place for any development, whether it is ...
Adam Harley (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD)
LD
I thank members for asking questions on this topic. There are plans to build one such data centre near Bishopbriggs in my constituency, and a number of local...
Gillian Martin
SNP
It is essential that proper consultation is undertaken with residents, regardless of the development.There has been a lot of speculation on data centres, par...
Steven Bonnar (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her previous and extensive answers on the topic. Will she outline how the Scottish Government will ensure that any future d...
Gillian Martin
SNP
The answer is, in general, yes. Data centres and developments that bring employment opportunities and investment to Scotland are welcome, but they must dovet...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Reform)
Reform
We have a deluge of speculative applications for AI data centres across the country. We have heard already that the area that I represent, North Lanarkshire,...
Gillian Martin
SNP
Graham Simpson is right that the UK Government announcing the AI growth zone in Lanarkshire has meant that there is an awful lot of speculation at the moment...
Julie MacDougall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform)
Reform
Last year, the UK Government announced plans to introduce AI growth zones, which would involve giving data centres a £24 per megawatt-hour discount in Scotla...
Gillian Martin
SNP
As Julie MacDougall said, the AI growth zone is a UK Government initiative, and that initiative has resulted in speculation in the areas that were designated...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
A number of members have indicated that they wish to ask a question on this issue. I will take one further question, which will be from Claire Baker, althoug...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The UK Government has updated its planning policy, and there is a clear strategic approach to where data centres are sited, which is what members are calling...
Gillian Martin
SNP
Obviously, that question strays into Mr McKee’s domain. I will take some of the members’ questions on planning regulations to Mr McKee, and he will see in th...