Action Against Wester Hermiston Mega Data Centre

Size of plot: 76.6 acres equivalent to 43 full-sized professional football pitches.

76.6 acres of high-yield soil - enough to produce 277 tonnes of food crops every single year.

The "Urban" Comparison: 76 acres is roughly the size of a large village or a significant portion of a major city park (for context, it is larger than the entire Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh).

What the Experts Say: The "AI Thirst" Paradox

Our campaign is supported by the growing concerns of national sustainability experts who warn that the push for AI dominance is on a collision course with environmental reality.

• Rich Kenny, co-chair of the UK Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA), has highlighted "AI’s thirst for water," noting the massive resource consumption required to keep these facilities operational.

• The GDSA’s primary objective is to reduce the environmental impact of the government’s IT estate, yet this goal is directly undermined by the rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centres.

• Experts point out a glaring policy contradiction: the UK Government aims to be a "world leader in AI" while simultaneously pledging to meet strict Net Zero and resource-conservation targets.

• Hyperscale facilities like Wester Hermiston represent this conflict in real-time, demanding millions of gallons of water and vast amounts of electricity that our current infrastructure was not designed to sustain.

Why This Matters for Wester Hermiston

If the government’s own sustainability advisors are questioning the "thirst" and energy drain of these projects, it is irresponsible for the City of Edinburgh Council to approve one on protected Green Belt land without a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

We are not just a local protest; we are echoing a national warning that the environmental cost of these "grey boxes" is simply too high for our communities to pay.

Here is a a copy of the letter sent to the Planning Officer on the 19th of March 2026:

I am writing to formally register my strong objection to the proposed Wester Hermiston AI Data Centre Campus. This development represents an inappropriate industrial encroachment into the Green Belt that contradicts both Scottish and UK national policy frameworks.

When reviewing this objection, I ask the planning department to specifically note the following critical concerns, which necessitate a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):

• Traffic and Air Pollution: The significant impact of HGV movements for construction and fuel, alongside emissions from 60+ industrial diesel generators.

• Loss of Greenfield Land: The permanent destruction of the Gogar Special Landscape Area and prime agricultural land.

• Noise Pollution: The 24/7 low-frequency drone from industrial cooling fans and constant generator testing.

My objection is further based on these fundamental planning failures:

1. Breach of "Brownfield-First" and Soil Protection Policies The proposal directly contradicts the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) "AI Growth Zones" policy, which explicitly mandates a preference for "de-industrialised areas" and "brownfield land". Wester Hermiston sits on Grade 2 Prime Agricultural Land, violating NPF4 Policy 5 (Soils), which protects high-quality land from industrial sprawl.

2. Violation of Green Belt and Landscape Integrity (NPF4 Policy 8 & 1) The site is part of the Gogar Special Landscape Area. The introduction of massive, windowless "grey boxes" fails to prioritise the climate and nature crises as required by NPF4 Policy 1. This development would permanently sterilise carbon-sequestering greenfield land and destroy the character of the western approach to Edinburgh.

3. Absence of a Mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Given the 213MW scale and proximity to Ancient Woodland and the Union Canal (a Scheduled Ancient Monument), it is procedurally irresponsible to proceed without a full EIA. National guidance suggests such sites eventually scale to 500MW; the cumulative impact on our local power grid, water table, and air quality must be scrutinised now.

4. Severe Environmental and Health Risks (NPF4 Policy 23 & 3) * Toxic Emissions: The planned 60+ industrial diesel generators will release Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). These pollutants will settle directly onto nearby homes and schools without natural filtration.

• Noise Pollution: The constant, 24/7 low-frequency drone from cooling fans is a proven pollutant linked to chronic sleep deprivation and mental health issues.

• Ecological Damage: The project threatens the biodiversity of the Union Canal and Ancient Woodland, violating NPF4 Policy 3, which requires developments to restore—not destroy—nature.

5. Infrastructure Strain and Lack of Local Benefit Data centres act as "water vampires," threatening local aquifers. Furthermore, as these facilities hijack the grid for massive energy draws, residents risk skyrocketing utility bills to fund necessary infrastructure upgrades. With "few long-term jobs" created, the permanent environmental cost far outweighs any questionable local benefit.

Conclusion NPF4 Policy 26 emphasises that digital infrastructure must be in the "right location." The refusal of the Gyle data centre in December 2025 set a clear precedent: speculative, high-energy industrial hubs are incompatible with this sensitive region. I urge the Council to uphold its commitment to the Green Belt and refuse this application.

Here is a copy of our letter to the CEO of SEPA:

Dear Ms. Paterson,

I am writing on behalf of the Pentland West Ward 2 Residents Protest Group to formally advise SEPA of critical environmental and food security risks regarding the proposed 213MW Data Centre at Wester Hermiston (Planning Ref: 25/05576/SCR).

We believe the current planning screening process is failing to address the industrial scale and transboundary impacts of this utility. We urge SEPA to intervene under its statutory remit, specifically regarding PPC (Part A) Atmospheric Emissions, CAR (Water Environment) protection, and NPF4 Soil Protection.

Our primary environmental concerns for SEPA’s immediate review:

• PPC Part A Thresholds (Atmospheric Emissions): While marketed as "Green AI," technical filings disclose a fleet of 60+ industrial-scale diesel generators required because grid energy provision is so scarce. We contend the aggregate thermal input exceeds the 50MW threshold, mandating a full Part A Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit and a comprehensive air quality audit.

• The "106,000 Car" Emission Risk: The scarcity of power on the grid requires the development to have approximately 60 diesel generators to supplement the lack of electricty from the grid. Independent analysis indicates that when activated, this generator fleet produces emissions equivalent to 106,312 idling diesel cars per hour. These Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions pose a direct public health risk to the residential communities of Currie, Gogarbank, Hermiston, and Wester Hailes.

• Loss of Prime Agricultural Land (NPF4 Policy 5): The development spans 30.76 hectares (equivalent to 43 football pitches) of high-yield agricultural land. This site currently produces approx. 277 tonnes of wheat annually—enough for 415,000 loaves of bread. Paving over this soil contradicts National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) objectives regarding the protection of prime agricultural land and soil carbon.

• CAR Regulations & The Union Canal: A 213MW facility requires massive onsite hydrocarbon storage. We request SEPA scrutinize the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) implications for the Union Canal (a protected biodiversity site) regarding potential contamination and surface water run-off.

• Developer Admission of Impact: We have confirmation that the developer (Apatura) admitted in a meeting with Scott Arthur MP that a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is "likely necessary." Despite this, the City of Edinburgh Council has allowed the screening process to stall for four months.

Our Request to SEPA: 

As the national guardian of Scotland's environment, we ask that SEPA formally notifies the City of Edinburgh Council that a full EIA is mandatory. A project that replaces food security with a "diesel bomb" impacting thousands of residents across West Edinburgh cannot be allowed to bypass the highest level of environmental scrutiny.

We trust SEPA will act to ensure our air quality and water environment are protected.