The Scottish Parliament passed amendments backed by the SNP and Labour that block planning decisions on new data centers over 50MW until updated national guidance is published, creating a de facto pause on approvals. SNP minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said full guidance would be released by the end of the year, while a Labour-backed motion requires the Scottish government to publish the guidance in full within 12 months. Separately, the Scottish government announced legislation requiring any developer of a hyperscale data center to conduct a full environmental impact assessment. The Scottish Green Party's motion for a formal moratorium was not passed, though its 50MW threshold shaped the final language approved by MSPs.
The pause affects all hyperscale data center applications above 50MW across Scotland at a time when communities in Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, and Fife have decisions pending within weeks. The requirement for environmental impact assessments on all hyperscale projects sets a new regulatory floor that could slow project timelines and raise compliance costs for developers across the country.
Scotland's parliament formally backing a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers is a significant regulatory action with immediate industry implications. This is a new development distinct from the previously published story about Scotland's parliament being 'set to vote' — the vote has now occurred with a result.