Data centres: Scottish Government requires Environmental Impact Assessments for new developments

The Scottish Government introduced a new planning direction requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for any new data centre with a power capacity above 50 megawatts, on 16 September 2026.

The change brings stricter environmental scrutiny to a sector that has been growing quickly across the country. It follows an earlier direction issued the previous month, which requires planning authorities to inform Scottish Ministers of every new data centre application within seven days of it being validated.

MSPs also voted that day on a Green-led motion for a full moratorium on hyperscale data centres. Parliament rejected the moratorium but backed an amended motion instead, agreeing that no planning decisions should be made until national guidance is finalised.

Hannah Mary Goodlad, Public…