MSPs have backed a call for planning and consenting decisions on hyperscale data centres to wait until national guidance has been published, alongside measures to secure jobs and community benefits from the sector.
The Scottish Parliament agreed the amended motion by 80 votes to 26, with 15 abstentions, on 16 September. It calls for clearer environmental standards and an industrial strategy to maximise the economic benefits of AI data-centre developments, including jobs and wages.
Ministers rejected a blanket moratorium, however, and said they did not expect planning decisions before the guidance was ready.
Hannah Mary Goodlad, Minister for Public Finance, told Parliament: “We do not agree that there should be a moratorium. That is not necessary, it is not appropriate, and it would send the wrong message to anyone looking to invest in Scotland.”
She said applications should continue to be lodged and scrutinised on their merits, and that the government wanted to bring forward guidance by Christmas.
The agreed motion calls on ministers to report back on the guidance by the end of 2026 and publish it in full within 12 months. It states that no planning or consenting decisions on such applications should be made until that work is complete.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, said: “I can confirm that we do not anticipate any planning authority decisions being imminent before the Scottish Government guidance is in place.”
The motion also seeks a clear definition of a hyperscale data centre and guidance covering the spatial, community and social impacts of developments. It calls for consideration of community benefit schemes and changes to business rates or other tax measures so that host communities share in the economic benefits.
Separately, a Scottish Government direction came into force on 17 September requiring environmental impact assessments for applications for new data centres with power capacity exceeding 50MW.
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In a letter to planning authorities, chief planner Dr Fiona Simpson said data centres not meeting that threshold would remain subject to case-by-case consideration under the environmental impact assessment regulations.
The parliamentary motion also sets out expectations that proposed developments should minimise emissions from energy use, avoid impacts on water usage and build community benefits into their business cases. It identifies recycling waste heat for wider community use as good practice.
