Large-scale data centres will require environmental assessment, says minister

Hannah Mary Goodlad said all large scale data centres will require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out before they can go ahead (Jane Barlow/PA) -

Environmental impact assessments will have to be carried out before large-scale data centres can go ahead, the Scottish Government has said.

Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad made the announcement – which will affect plans for data centres with a power capacity of more than 50 megawatts – ahead of a debate at Holyrood calling for a moratorium on all such developments.