Scotland's SNP has voted to freeze all new datacentre construction, a move that could directly threaten the UK's AI infrastructure strategy. The moratorium, if adopted by ministers, would cover projects without planning permission, including the Lanarkshire AI growth zone — a flagship site chosen for its renewable energy. With 24 hyperscale projects in various stages, the combined power demand would exceed Scotland's peak consumption by 50%. The vote reflects growing community pushback against the datacentre boom, concerns about grid strain and rising power bills, and broader doubts about the UK's AI ambitions following revelations that some 'growth zones' were more hype than substance. A parliamentary committee also raised sovereignty concerns after the US restricted foreign access to Anthropic's most powerful tools.
