Plans for Scotland’s first designated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Zone in Lanarkshire are attracting considerable private investment and job creation projections but are also drawing criticism from environmental campaigners concerned about the impact on green belt land.
The UK Government has announced that the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone, centred around DataVita’s facilities in Chapelhall, is backed by over £8.2 billion in private investment and is expected to generate approximately 3,400 jobs over the coming years. These roles are anticipated to include around 800 high-value positions in AI research, engineering, and data centre operations, alongside an estimated 2,600 construction jobs and at least 50 apprenticeships.
However, Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), a countryside charity, is calling for greater transparency regarding the full extent of proposed developments, raising fears of a “greengrab” of protected land. A report by APRS highlights “a number of sites” linked to DataVita, some of which are currently in the pre-planning process, covering a significant area predominantly within the green belt.
APRS Director, Dr Kat Jones, stated: “Lanarkshire, and particularly Chapelhall, has the dubious accolade of having been named Scotland’s AI growth zone. And, as such, it is under intense pressure from developers.”
Dr Jones added: “We have already seen ancient oaks taken down on green belt to clear space for the extension to the current data centre site and the size of the two sites linked to the hyperscale AI data centre buildings are enormous, 280 acres in total, mainly on green belt land.”
Green belt land in Scotland operates under a “strong presumption” against most forms of development, aimed at preventing urban sprawl and preserving open spaces for public access and climate change mitigation.
Local groups echo these concerns. Diane Davidson, secretary of the Woodhall Faskine and Palacecraig Conservation Group, highlighted a decade-long effort “to protect the integrity of the green belt, proving it is a vital ecological and community asset.”
Ms Davidson claimed local landowners are facing “immense pressure to ‘cash in’ to developers,” characterising the situation as “This isn’t genuine economic growth, it is a ‘greengrab’ at the expense of productive farmland and essential wildlife corridors.” She criticised the fragmented approach to planning, noting that “this sliced-up approach is disguising the true size of the picture and doesn’t allow it the full scrutiny it deserves.”
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Campaigners also challenge the promised job figures, with APRS suggesting that up to 90% of the projected 3,400 jobs are temporary construction roles or “ghost jobs” that may not necessarily be located within Scotland. Their research indicates that most data centres typically employ between 20 and 50 people post-construction.
Concerns also extend to the high energy consumption of data centres. These facilities are known to consume significantly more electricity per square metre than typical commercial buildings, with UK data centre electricity demand forecast to increase fivefold by 2030, potentially reaching 8.8% of total national electricity consumption.
Responding to the broader development, a spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council affirmed the council’s “supportive in principle” stance towards the AI growth zone due to its potential economic benefits. However, they stressed that “any application submitted would require to be assessed on its merits and against all relevant development plan policies and would be subject to the same assessment and consultation as any other planning application.”
