Hyperscale data centre plans in Fife face local opposition
Proposals for a large-scale data centre in Fife, Scotland, have encountered opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about its size and environmental impact.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A proposal to build a hyperscale data centre in Fife, Scotland, has sparked strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups, who say the development is too large and would harm the surrounding area. The planned facility, known as the Cato hyperscale data centre, would be one of the biggest in the world, with a capacity of 600 megawatts and buildings reaching 115 feet tall, equivalent to an 11-storey block of flats. Developers describe it as a green facility with high sustainability standards, but opponents argue it would bring noise, pollution, and strain on water supplies and drainage.
The site is near the Mossmorran gas plant, which closed earlier this year, costing hundreds of jobs. Those behind the data centre say it will transform the local economy, but many residents reject that argument. One local, Lindsay, said the low-frequency noise from the centre would harm her son Teddy, who has severe neurological conditions and has undergone more than 20 brain operations in three years. Their home is only 300 metres from the proposed boundary.
The UK government sees data centres as vital for its artificial intelligence growth plans. There are currently around 520 data centres in the UK, with plans for 92 more, 10 of which are specifically for AI use and tend to be larger. Opponents in Scotland have called on the Scottish government, which holds planning powers, to impose a temporary ban on new developments until their full impact is understood. Scottish ministers say they are looking at whether more guidance is needed. However, a financial figure quoted in the report warned that any pause would push investors away, adding that not every application should be approved but that a blanket moratorium is wrong.
The debate highlights a growing tension between national ambitions for AI infrastructure and the concerns of local communities who would live alongside these massive facilities. Every online search, stream, or AI request relies on data centres, and the question of where to put them is becoming increasingly urgent.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| 10 of the 92 planned new data centres are specifically for AI use. | |
| The buildings would be 115 feet tall, equivalent to an 11-storey block of flats. | |
| The proposed data centre would have a capacity of 600 megawatts, making it one of the largest in the world. | |
| There are around 520 data centres in the UK. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel focused heavily on the human impact of the proposed data centre, using an AI-generated video to illustrate the scale and featuring a personal story of a mother whose son's medical condition could be worsened by noise. The tone was balanced but gave significant weight to local opposition, while also noting the economic arguments from developers and the national push for AI growth.
- “We just think the scale here is overwhelming.”
- “The low frequency noise can really impact the conditions that he has in terms of sleeping, resilience, being able to recuperate.”
- “There's nothing artificial about the tension here between ambition at a national level and concerns at the local.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.