THE Scottish Greens have called on SNP ministers to listen to councils and halt the “big tech” data centre land grab.

Concerns are growing that if the 24 hyperscale data centres currently making their way through the planning system in Scotland were granted, they could add as much as 150 per cent to peak energy demand, stymying any hope of meeting national climate targets.

Now Edinburgh and East Ayrshire councils have called for a moratorium on new developments until fresh planning guidance is issued — guidance John Swinney told Holyrood last week was under “active consideration.”

Backing the councils’ call, Scottish Greens economy spokesperson Patrick Harvie MSP warned: “Some data centres are necessary for the digital services we all rely on, and for socially useful purposes such as health research.

“But what Scotland is facing now is on a far bigger scale, and involves speculative land and energy grabs from big tech companies.

“We cannot allow renewable energy that should be helping to cut bills, heat homes and decarbonise transport to be swallowed up by speculative developments designed to serve the profits of global tech giants.”