en.Wedoany.com Reported - Renewable energy developer Apatura has submitted a planning application to Falkirk Council for a major green data centre campus in Larbert. The proposed Larbert Data Centre Campus is located at Glenbervie Business Park, Bellsdyke Road, Larbert, covering approximately 55 acres and owned by Scottish Enterprise. The site was previously designated for commercial and industrial use but remained vacant. Falkirk Council has accepted the full planning application, which responds to government planning policy designating green data centres as nationally significant critical infrastructure. Last year, the developer also announced plans for another nationally significant data centre in Ravenscraig, with a related planning application expected to be submitted this summer.
The project has undergone extensive public consultation and multiple meetings with the local community, including two public events at Glenbervie House. Residents provided input on community development and green space improvements, which will be incorporated into future plans. If approved, the project will bring nearly £1 billion in capital investment to the region, creating over 5,000 jobs during construction and more than 1,300 long-term technical roles during operation, of which over 500 are local positions with an average annual salary of £56,000. The project is scheduled to achieve first power and operations in 2028, with grid connection already confirmed for the site, which will also connect to Apatura's permitted battery energy storage system (BESS) site located two miles north of the site.
Giles Hanglin, CEO of Apatura Energy, stated that the company has worked closely with landowner Scottish Enterprise, Falkirk Council's investment attraction team, and local organisations to ensure the proposal aligns with local development plans and makes a sustainable long-term contribution to the region. The Larbert site was chosen for its strategic location and strong grid connection at the nearby Denny substation, aiming to meet Scotland's growing demand for secure, high-capacity digital infrastructure. Hanglin noted that the goal is to make this data centre campus one of the most advanced in Europe, leveraging its proximity to transport hubs and major research and education centres, with the site located just 20 miles northeast of the UK government-designated Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone. He also stated that, if approved, the project would cement central Scotland's reputation as a global investment destination for new technologies.
Victoria Carmichael, Director of Assets, Growth Infrastructure and Major Projects at Scottish Enterprise, said that as the national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise welcomes the scale and ambition of the proposed investment and the opportunities it could create. At the All Energy conference held in Glasgow in May, Fintan Slye, CEO of the UK's National Energy System Operator, stated that locating data centres in Scotland, which is rich in renewable energy, could help lower consumer bills. Hanglin added that the proposal aligns with all core principles set out in the industry charter "Delivering Green Data Centres in Scotland," including maximising the use of renewable electricity, making the site suitable for district heating, and minimising water usage. Larbert is one of several grid-ready sites Apatura is advancing in central Scotland, backed by over 1.6 GW of confirmed grid connections, making it one of the few developers in the UK capable of delivering data centre infrastructure of this scale.
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