Scottish Parliament votes to pause approvals of hyperscale AI data centres for up to a year

The Scottish Parliament voted to pause approvals of new hyperscale AI data centres for up to a year while new national planning guidance is developed. The move responds to concerns about energy demand, environmental impact, and community disruption. More than 20 large facilities have been proposed, including one in Fife. The Scottish government also introduced mandatory environmental impact assessments for data centres over 50 megawatts. The pause is temporary, not a ban, and aims to balance economic benefits with environmental protection.