Scotland is attracting increased attention from data centre developers, fuelled by its renewable energy resources, land availability, and skilled workforce. Analysts at Lichfields report that these factors could drive significant growth for the region, provided planning frameworks allow development to proceed efficiently.

Economic impact

The UK’s data centre sector currently contributes around GBP £4.7 billion to the national economy each year, with projections indicating that construction and operations could add a further GBP £44 billion by 2035. Scotland’s renewable electricity generation stands out, having produced 113 per cent of its own consumption from renewables in 2022, and regularly exporting surplus power to the national grid.

Site opportunities

Analysts point to previous studies supported by Scottish policymakers that have identified potential data centre locations across Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife, and the Highlands. These areas offer a mix of land availability, renewable capacity and technical skills. However, most large-scale data centre projects remain concentrated in southern England, driven in part by more established planning support and grid capacity.

“For developers, Scotland offers something few regions or countries can match – abundant low-carbon energy, space for expansion and a strong engineering base. The combination of renewable generation, cool climate and established technical skills creates ideal conditions for sustainable data centre operations,” said Dan Evans, Associate Director, Lichfields.

Planning alignment

Lichfields recommends several measures to help Scotland realise its potential in the sector. These include allocating specific parcels of land for future data centre development in Local Development Plans, adopting Masterplan Consent Areas to streamline approval processes for complex sites, and fostering early engagement between developers, planning authorities, and energy providers.

The consultancy cites the regeneration of the former Ravenscraig steelworks in North Lanarkshire as an example of recent momentum. The GBP £3.9 billion redevelopment project includes one of the UK’s largest AI-ready data centres, forecast to support around 2,000 long-term jobs. It is expected to contribute GBP £1.2 billion in construction value and boost Scotland’s GDP by an estimated 0.4 per cent annually once operational.

Policy consistency

Policymakers are being urged to provide greater certainty about which projects will be supported and the likely duration of the approvals process. Developers remain focused on delivery timelines, cost certainty and access to a low-carbon grid to underpin decisions about new investments in the region.

“Across the UK, we’re seeing growing demand from investors and operators looking for sites that balance performance, cost and environmental responsibility. Scotland’s renewable strength and land availability tick those boxes, but delivery confidence remains key. Developers need clarity on where projects will be supported and how long approvals will take. A consistent national position, backed by local planning frameworks, would make a real difference in turning interest into investment,” said Evans

Global outlook

Industry observers see scope for Scotland to establish itself as an alternative to existing UK data centre hubs should planning and infrastructure development accelerate in step with demand.

“Scotland has an opportunity to position itself as a genuine alternative to traditional UK data centre clusters. By combining its renewable capacity with a more agile planning approach, it can attract long-term global investment, create skilled employment and strengthen its reputation for sustainable growth. Developers are ready to commit where policy, infrastructure and delivery are properly coordinated. With the right signals from government and local authorities, Scotland could move from potential to performance very quickly,” said Evans.