Glasgow has been urged to oppose the development of new AI data centres amid growing concern over their impact on electricity supplies, water use and household bills.
A motion brought before Glasgow City Council yesterday called for the city to support a national moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centres.
Green councillor Anthony Carroll also asked the council leader to write to the First Minister setting out opposition to new developments and called for officials to investigate whether a moratorium could be reflected in Glasgow’s next development plan.
There are currently no planning applications for AI data centres within the Glasgow City Council boundary. However, a growing number of substantial developments are being proposed elsewhere in Scotland, including in neighbouring North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire.
The Glasgow motion raised concerns over the huge amounts of electricity and water required by hyperscale facilities, as well as potential noise, light pollution and emissions from back-up generators.
It stated that the developments could place an “unacceptable burden on the resources of the country”.
Scotland is experiencing a rapid increase in proposals for large data centres as demand for computing power to support artificial intelligence grows.
A tracker of Scottish projects recorded 31 proposed, progressing or stalled schemes by 28 October, with a combined published capacity of more than 10,000MW. That figure includes projects at different stages and does not mean they will all be built.
Holyrood has already increased scrutiny of the sector.
The Scottish Government introduced rules requiring ministers to be notified of proposed data centres above 50MW, while environmental impact assessments are now required for existing and new data-centre applications.
Ministers have promised updated national planning guidance and a spatial framework before the end of the year.
The Scottish Parliament also backed an amended motion in September which said decisions on data-centre planning and consenting should not be made until new national guidance had been completed.
MSPs called for greater clarity over energy demand, water consumption, environmental effects and the benefits which developments could bring to surrounding communities.
Glasgow’s City Development Plan 2 is currently being prepared and will guide planning and regeneration decisions across the city over the coming decade.
The council motion asked officers to examine whether restrictions on AI data centres could legally be incorporated into that document.