The Scottish Government has issued a planning direction tightening environmental scrutiny of major data centre proposals, making EIAs mandatory for projects exceeding the 50MW threshold.

The move follows a direction last month requiring planning authorities to notify Scottish Ministers of every new data centre application within seven days of validation.

Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said: "The Scottish Government recognises that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector attracting a broad range of views, opinions and concerns, and that evidence on the environmental impact of data centres continues to develop.

"As this is an emerging industry, we have the opportunity to get this right from the start. The guidance issued today is the next step in that process.

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"We must balance the economic and employment interests in developing data centres with national energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local communities.

"Ensuring that an Environmental Impact Assessment is always part of the application process will create a level playing field for developers and will ensure potentially significant environmental effects are considered from the outset."

The requirement is set out in The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Data Centres exceeding 50MW Power Capacity) (Scotland) Direction 2026.

The direction was developed with input from the Scottish Science Advisory Council, which provides independent advice on science strategy, policy and priorities, through its Chair, to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland and to Ministers.

An EIA systematically brings together an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects of a proposed development.

Applications below 50MW remain subject to established EIA regulations, with the need for assessment determined on a case-by-case basis under existing legislative criteria, reflecting the specific circumstances of each proposal.