A consultation on plans for a £2 billion data centre in the Scottish Borders, tipped to transform surplus renewable energy into a major economic asset while creating hundreds of jobs, is being launched this week.

The proposed Southside Data Centre, a large-scale facility, has been earmarked for moorland west of Duns, between the villages of Longformacus and Westruther.

The project is expected to support 145 permanent high-skilled jobs locally and more than 250 across Scotland once operational, while creating around 1,000 jobs during construction.

A local petition launched over the weekend to block the plans from going through, citing environmental concerns and major disruption to way of life.

Backers say the development has been designed to take advantage of one of the region’s most underused resources: renewable electricity that cannot currently reach the wider grid. Located close to several wind farms and the Fallago Rig substation, the site would be powered largely by locally generated renewable energy, much of which is currently constrained because of limited transmission capacity.

At full capacity, the facility would consume approximately 225MW of electricity and is projected to contribute £25 million annually to the Scottish economy, including around £12 million each year for the Borders.

The proposal is being promoted by Sunlaws Development Company, an entity of Roxburghe Estates, which owns the site. Early plans envisage three two-storey buildings integrated into the landscape through the use of green roofs planted with native moorland species.

Developers argue that the location helps limit environmental impact. They claim the cooler year-round temperatures and consistent winds reduce cooling requirements. The development will also have a closed-loop cooling system which would eliminate the need to draw on local water supplies.

Over 15 years, it is estimated that the data centre could add an additional £47 million to the Scottish Borders area, and generate at least £776 million in tax revenues, a third of which will be in non-domestic rates payable directly to the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to support local services.

The first public consultation event will take place at Longformacus Village Hall on June 4, followed by a second session at Westruther Village Hall on June 10. Residents will be able to view initial designs, learn more about environmental studies being undertaken and put questions directly to the project team.

A full programme of surveys required for an Environmental Impact Assessment is under way, developers said, with further consultation is expected before a planning application is submitted.

Local campaign group, Save the Lammermuirs – Stop the Data Centre, said the project is a case of “the wrong development in the wrong place.”

A statement from the group read: “The Lammermuir Hills are not an industrial zone.

 

“They are one of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive rural landscapes in southern Scotland; an area known for its wildlife, dark skies, open countryside, hill farming, walking routes, fishing, heritage and passionate rural communities.”

Concerns listed include impact on wildlife and habitats, landscape and visual impact, noise and light pollution, increased HGV traffic and infrastructure pressure and the cumulative industrialisation of the Lammermuir landscape with other renewable energy developments in place.

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