Campaigners against a massive AI data centre being built in Larbert have joined a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament.

Hundreds of people from 15 campaign groups around the country gathered in front of the Holyrood building on Thursday to oppose the development of AI data centres.

Organisers said they “won’t stop” until the Scottish Government announces a moratorium on the centres’ development. They called on First Minister John Swinney to immediately pause developments until concerns have been fully considered and until a Government strategy is put in place.

As well as the Larbert plans, which if approved would see a centre built on a 55-acre site just off Bellsdyke Road, there are also plans for an £8 billion AI investment zone in North Lanarkshire, a £5 billion data centre project in Fife and a £2 billion data centre in the Borders.

Campaigners against the Larbert AI data centre plans were protesting outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday. Pic: Lisa Ferguson

placeholder image — Campaigners against the Larbert AI data centre plans were protesting outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday. Pic: Lisa Ferguson

Those against plans have warned over the centres’ impact on the environment, including extremely high electricity and water usage.

Kat Jones, from Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), said people across Scotland feel they are not being listened to by the Government.

She said: “We did hear the Scottish Government say in the new Programme for Government that they wanted to see a strategic approach to data centres, but with [development plans] coming in quick and fast through the planning system, what we need more than anything is a pause, and then that strategic work, and studies of what the impacts are, and consultation with communities can be done.

“Our message as APRS today is that the Scottish Government and John Swinney should look at the public sentiment on hyperscale data centres and start to look in detail at what impacts they have and to put a pause on them all until there’s time for them to actually put a strategy in place.”

Campaigners were calling for a moratorium on plans for AI data centres across Scotland. (Pic: Lisa Ferguson)

The issue was discussed at Holyrood’s Climate Action Committee on Thursday.

In the Parliament, Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife asked Jenny Gilruth, Deputy First Minister what plans they had to further update planning guidance in relation to the development of hyperscale data centres, following the latest planning direction issued in August. He also pressed the Government to establish a moratorium on applications whilst adequate guidance was developed.

Ms Gilruth said they were considering planning guidance and would keep Parliament updated - but the SNP politician did not agree to a moratorium.

Mr Ruskell described her response as “disappointing.”

Hundreds of protesters were at Holyrood last week. (Pic: Lisa Ferguson)

He said: “Hundreds of people gathered outside Parliament angry at the lack of meaningful action from the Scottish Government to stand up to big tech and control the hyperscale data centre boom.

“I share their frustration. Two months have passed since I last raised this issue in the chamber. Since then, all we’ve seen is a weak commitment from the Government to be notified when applications are submitted, and a frankly bizarre pledge in the new Programme for Government to encourage more applications for green data centres, despite the fact that we still do not have a definition of what a ‘green’ data centre is.

“It’s beyond time for the Scottish Government to show leadership – we need an urgent pause on all hyperscale data centre applications, until they provide a full definition of a green data centre, robust planning guidance for Councils, and require environmental assessments on applications as standard.”