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ARTICLE · 21 OCTOBER 2026

New Direction For Data Centres In Scotland

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Scotland's National Policy Framework 4 recognizes 'green data centres' as nationally significant developments, but recent ministerial directions have introduced new Environmental Impact Assessment requirements for facilities exceeding 50MW power capacity. The evolving regulatory landscape raises questions about how these policies will be applied to current proposals in the planning system.

ScotlandEnvironment
Hermione Kemp
Hermione Kemp
Patrick Munro
Patrick Munro

Current National Planning Policy

At a national policy level, the current position under National Policy Framework 4 (“NPF4”) is broadly supportive of data centres. ‘Green data centres’ are recognised as a form of national development, proposals that have been identified as having national significance for Scotland’s long-term spatial strategy. A designation as national development means that the principle of the development does not need to be agreed in later consenting processes.

However, NPF4 does not expand on what is meant by a green data centre and the class of national development that it falls within is part of the ‘Digital Fibre Network’.  How that translates to the proposals currently within the system is yet to be determined. 

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