Wednesday July 29th 2026
Opposition to AI data centres is growing
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A Scottish Borders councillor has called for a clear national strategy to enable local authorities to make the right choices over proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres.
In recent months there has been a significant rise in planning applications for proposed data centres in the Borders and across Scotland.
Specifically there is momentum growing against plans for an AI centre near Borders’ villages after a protest petition garnered more than 21,000 names.
Sunlaws Development Company Limited want to build the Southside Data Centre on land at Clawbare Cottage in Longformacus on the Lammermuir Hills.
The developer says the data centre represents a £2 billion investment in the Scottish economy, bringing with it 145 long-term jobs and also bolstering the Borders economy to the tune of £12m a year.
But objectors highlight the long time implications over the loss of agricultural land and the “industrialisation” of the landscape.
The planned development on the Roxburghe Estate comprises of three large two-storey data centre buildings, each with a height up to 24m.
In recent weeks East Berwickshire Independent councillor James Anderson has received an increasing number of emails raising concerns AI data centre proposals.
He believes it is essential to “strike the right balance” when considering these applications.
Mr Anderson said: “I completely understand why people are concerned.
“These developments have the potential to bring investment and jobs, but they also raise important questions about energy use, water consumption, our electricity network and, perhaps most importantly for a rural area like ours, the long-term impact on our landscape and agricultural land.
“The reality is that we’re all using more digital services than ever before. Whether it’s online banking, streaming TV, working from home, cloud storage or AI, demand for data is growing rapidly. That means there is a genuine need for the infrastructure that supports it.
“However, that doesn’t mean every proposal is the right proposal or that we should simply accept developments without asking difficult questions.
We need to get the balance right.
“Good-quality agricultural land is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. Once it has been built on, it is incredibly difficult to get it back. We also need to understand the cumulative impact of multiple data centres on our power supply, water resources, transport network and local communities.”
Mr Anderson believes SBC and other local authorities need more national guidance to inform their decisions.
He added: “These are issues that go far beyond individual planning applications.
“I believe there is a strong case for stepping back and developing a clear national strategy so that local councils are not left making decisions on nationally significant infrastructure without the wider context.
“Technology is important. Economic growth is important. But so are food security, our environment and the character of our rural communities.
“The challenge isn’t choosing one over the other – it’s making sure we strike the right balance.”
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