Scotland is considering a temporary freeze on new datacentre developments following a motion approved by the Scottish National Party (SNP) National Council, a move that could significantly affect the UK’s artificial intelligence infrastructure plans. If adopted by the Scottish government, the proposed moratorium could apply to datacentre projects that have not yet received planning approval. Supporters of the motion argue that the growing number of large-scale facilities could place excessive pressure on Scotland’s renewable energy resources and local communities. According to the proposal, 24 hyperscale datacentre projects are currently at different stages of planning, with combined electricity demand potentially exceeding Scotland’s peak power consumption. The proposal also raises broader questions about the UK’s AI strategy, which has identified Scotland as a key location for AI infrastructure due to its renewable energy capacity. Government officials will now review the motion before deciding whether and how any restrictions will be implemented.
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