Scottish AI datacentre plans raise fears over land and jobs

Residents in Newarthill and nearby Airdrie are questioning the promised benefits of Lanarkshire’s AI growth zone after energy firms approached households about solar farm plans and potential offers including panels, tree planting or cash for properties. The UK government announced the project as a multibillion-pound development involving CoreWeave and DataVita, with promises of 3,400 new “high-value” jobs and a community fund of “up to £543m”.

Local concern has focused on the power needed for AI datacentres and the land required to supply it. DataVita has said the site will have 1GW of power from energy parks connected directly to its datacentres, which would require 44 sq km of nearby land by conservative estimates, while current holdings appear to be less than a 10th of that. Public statements initially described large amounts of “on-site” renewable energy, but the government and DataVita later acknowledged the zone would connect to Britain’s grid.

DataVita says all proposals will go through local and national planning processes and that it has no commercial connection with Locogen or Oakes Energy Services. Locogen also denied involvement with DataVita. Action to Protect Rural Scotland challenged the job projections, saying the government figures could be “a hundred times bigger” than probable datacentre employment, while the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology stands by estimates including construction, supply chain and wider regional roles.