Imminent determination date for Larbert AI data centre plans "likely" to be extended

The plans by Apatura to build a 300MW hyperscale AI data centre on land off Bellsdyke Road have attracted several thousands of objections.

The developer says that the centre would bring investment and employment, including around 500 long-term, well-paid local jobs.

However campaigners against the plans, including many local residents, believe that the location – next to a care home and close to a major hospital as well as thousands of houses – is completely unsuitable.

The current planning determination date for the application is November 13, 2026, following an earlier extension to the determination period. It had originally been due to be decided by October 4.

A pre-determination hearing has already taken place, with hundreds of people attending, however the application has not yet progressed to go before the planning committee.

This week, Falkirk Council confirmed “the current determination date is November 13, 2026”, adding “discussions are ongoing with the applicant in respect of further extensions of time which are likely to be required”.

A spokesperson for the council said: “At this stage the date that a planning committee will consider this application is unknown.”

Labour MSP Jenny Young recently raised concerns over the planning application in the Scottish Parliament.

Questioning the Deputy First Minister, the MSP for Central Scotland and the Lothians, highlighted that the council intends to make a decision about the proposed plans by November 13 despite the Scottish Parliament voting for a motion in September that stated that no decisions could be made on data centre plans until the Scottish Government had published new national guidelines.

With that national guidance still being developed, MSPs had been told decisions on data centres were highly unlikely to be made before the end of the calendar year.

However, last month Falkirk Council announced a determination date for the application had been extended from October 4 to November 13.

Ms Young said that through a freedom of information request she has learned that an email conversation shows Falkirk Council asked Apatura on September 22 if the statutory determination date could be extended until January 15, 2027 to “allow the continued assessment of the application” and “provide an opportunity” to take account of the Scottish Government’s planning guidance. Apatura responded by asking for the council to agree to an extension to November 13, 2026, to which the council agreed.

Ms Young asked Jenny Gilruth, Deputy First Minister, on October 27 if the Scottish Government will step in to ensure no decision is taken until the guidance is available.

Ms Gilruth said she couldn’t comment on specific applications but reiterated that Scottish Government guidance is expected to be delivered before Christmas and environmental impact assessments have been mandated for existing data centre applications. She added that Scottish Government Ministers do have “call-in powers” and can “recall any planning appeal rather than have the decision made by the Scottish Government reporter”.

Speaking this week, a Falkirk Council spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has not issued any formal instruction to pause or delay a decision on the application.

"Officers are however aware that there is an expectation from Scottish Government that no such applications should be determined prior to any forthcoming guidance.

"In the meantime, officers are continuing to assess the application through the normal planning process, including ongoing engagement with the applicant following the recent Pre-Determination Hearing.”