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Plans for Massive Data Centre at Former Nuclear Site Spark Controversy

Plans for Massive Data Centre at Former Nuclear Site Spark Controversy

First seen 1 Oct 2026, 12:04 UTC • •

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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 2, 2026 at 11:06 UTC
  • •Proposed data centre could be the largest in the world with 1GW capacity.
  • •Scottish Greens warn of significant energy consumption and environmental impact.
  • •Local opposition cites lack of community engagement and potential landscape destruction.

Plans have been submitted for a £16.5bn data centre at the former Chapelcross nuclear power station, aiming to create around 500 jobs and achieve 1GW capacity. CX Tech Ltd claims the facility will use innovative cooling methods to minimize water usage. However, the Scottish Greens oppose the project, citing potential energy consumption of 7 million MWh annually, equivalent to over two million homes. They argue this would strain Scotland's energy grid and exceed local greenhouse gas emissions limits. Local residents express concerns over the lack of community engagement and the impact on the rural landscape. CX Tech Ltd describes the project as a significant opportunity for economic growth in the region. The planning application is currently under review.

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Timeline

2026-09-30
Plans submitted for data centre
CX Tech Ltd submitted plans for a £16.5bn data centre at the Chapelcross site, aiming for 1GW capacity and job creation.
News.Stv.Tv
2026-10-01
Scottish Greens call for rejection
Scottish Green MSP Laura Moodie called for the rejection of the data centre proposal due to environmental concerns.
No2Nuclearpower.Uk

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Common questions

What is the capacity of the proposed data centre?
The proposed data centre aims for a capacity of 1GW, making it potentially the largest in the world.
What are the environmental concerns raised?
Concerns include high energy consumption, exceeding local greenhouse gas emissions limits, and potential landscape destruction.
How many jobs will the project create?
The project is expected to create around 500 permanent jobs and 750 construction jobs during the development phase.