By Chris Marzella
Copyright dailyrecord
The company behind a proposed new ‘AI data centre campus’ in Plean has altered the proposal – with the planned cutting-edge facility now being targeted for Larbert. However, the applicant Apatura is also assessing alternative options for how to make best use of the Plean site. In August, Apatura lodged a proposal of application notice (PoAN) to both Stirling Council and Falkirk Council for the proposed development on land on the A9 – between Plean and Torwood. The company sought to establish an ” AI data centre campus with a 300MW demand utility capacity with car parking, landscaping, roads, access and associate works” at the site positioned south of Plean and northwest of Stenhousemuir. It was claimed that the venture could deliver more than £2 billion in capital investment and generate more than 2,000 jobs. However, this week, Apatura has lodged plans for the campus to be established at Glenbervie Business Centre, in Larbert – roughly three and a half miles from Plean. Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area. The Larbert development would feature a 300MW data centre campus, a substantial clean energy and digital infrastructure development. The project would “enable a multi-billion-pound investment in a hyperscale green AI data centre and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), supporting the region’s ambitions for a strong, inclusive, and sustainable local economy”. Apatura says that the PoAN submission “marks the start of the statutory 12-week pre-application consultation process” on its plans. A public consultation is set to take place on Tuesday, October 28, at Glenbervie House & Country Estate from 3-8pm. A follow-up event is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, at the same location and time. Local councillor Alasdair Macpherson expressed his disappointment that the project seems unlikely to be located in Plean, attributing the area’s history of mine works as a likely factor in the decision. He said: “This is very disappointing news for Plean and the wider Stirling Council area. It’s my understanding that the historical mine workings around Plean made it more challenging for the developers – so they took the easy option in locating it at Glenbervie. “Whilst it’s a blow for Plean, given the close proximity to Stirling, I’m sure the proposed development will still have a positive economic impact to the surrounding area.” If given the green light, the Larbert AI Data Centre Campus would represent a £2.1 billion total capital investment with £189 million of construction spend retained in the local supply chain. The company also claims that the Larbert proposal would result in 2,164 jobs being created across Scotland annually, with 395 of these in Falkirk over the four-year construction period. Once operational, the site will create 1,426 jobs across Scotland, including 565 permanent roles in Falkirk, with 297 of these on-site.
