Written Question · S7W-04482 · Session 7
What assessment it has made of any potential implications of hyperscale AI data centres for public health, including any impact on local ai…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential implications of hyperscale AI data centres for public health, including any impact on local air quality, noise levels, water resources, energy infrastructure and health inequalities, and whether it plans to undertake health impact assessments as part of its forthcoming national planning and spatial guidance for hyperscale data centres.
The answer
Planning applications for data centres are a matter for the relevant local authority in the first instance and all planning applications must be determined in accordance with the statutory development plan, which comprises National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the relevant Local Development Plan. NPF4 policy 23 (health and safety) sets out that development proposals which are likely to have a significant adverse effect on health will not be supported and a Health Impact Assessment may be required to accompany the application.I have previously taken action so that an Environmental Impact Assessment must always be part of the application process for proposals over 50MW power capacity, ensuring potentially significant environmental effects are considered from the outset.As I have made clear in Parliament, we will publish planning guidance on data centres by Christmas.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S7W-04482 by reference.