Campaigners oppose £2bn rural data centre 'monster'

A data centre which developers say would represent a £2bn investment at a rural spot in the Borders has been described by opponents as a "monster" which would drain "the life and beauty from the landscape".

The Sunlaws Development Company (SDC) said it would create 145 high-quality local jobs with its Southside proposal at a site to the west of Duns between the villages of Longformacus and Westruther.

However, a campaign group has urged those behind the project to drop their plans.

Kathleen White, a member of Save the Lammermuirs – Stop the Data Centre, (SLSDC) said they believed it was "the wrong development in the wrong place".

SDC - formed by Roxburghe Estates and the local landowner - said the project could create 1,000 jobs in the construction phase.

It said it would mainly be powered by wind farms due to the proximity of a large number of them.

It added that the location also benefited from "comparatively low temperatures" which mean it would not need to draw on local water supplies for cooling purposes.

The company said its draft proposals showed three two-storey buildings "screened into the landscape" with "green roofs" planted with moorland species designed to blend in.

However, opponents gathered on the site at the weekend to formally launch their campaign against the project.

White said: "It's an area where you can't imagine any other development of any size being permitted by SBC, let alone an industrial-scale data centre, 24m (80ft) high.

"So we are calling on SBC to oppose it, if a full planning application is lodged.

"We believe that the data centre will be a monster, consuming vast resources of electricity, and draining the life and beauty from the landscape. We think it is the wrong development in the wrong place."

She said they accepted that artificial intelligence (AI) had some real benefits but infrastructure should be developed responsibly.

"This proposed SDC in Longformacus is an example of highly irresponsible development," she added.

The group has contacted councillors and local MSPs to seek their support.

The company is staging its first public consultation sessions over the next few days.

One will be held at Longformacus village hall on Thursday from 13:00 to 19:00.

The second is planned at the village hall in Westruther on 10 June at the same times.

The company said the events would let people find out more about the scheme and put questions to the project team.

It said further consultation events would be held as it moved towards the submission of a full planning application.

Additional reporting by local democracy journalist Paul Kelly.