Investigation reveals landmark Scottish AI growth zone datacentre will

A Guardian investigation revealed that a Scottish "AI growth zone" will connect to the national grid, despite claims it would run on local green energy. The site, hosting datacentres for CoreWeave and DataVita, was promised to bring 3400 jobs and £543m in community funding.

Local residents fear the 1GW energy demand will destroy green belt land. DataVita claims the site will run on local energy parks, but estimates show this would require 44 square kilometers of land, while the developer currently holds less than a tenth of that.

Documents show the community fund contains no money, as it depends on future revenues. An FoI request also revealed that the 3400 jobs estimate was copied from a different project in Northumberland, with actual permanent jobs expected to be up to 100 times fewer.