New AI data centre campus proposed for Plean with potential to create over 2,000 jobs
Plans are in motion to create a new 'AI date centre campus' in Plean that could bring more than £2 billion in capital investment and create more than 2,000 jobs.
A proposal of application notice (PoAN) has been submitted to both Stirling Council and Falkirk Council by applicants Apatura for the proposed development on land on the A9 – between Plean and Torwood.
Agents for the applicant say that they want to create a 'AI data centre campus with a 300MW demand utility capacity with car parking, landscaping, roads, access and associate works' at the site located south of Plean and northwest of Stenhousemuir.
The applicant says that AI data centres are 'vital to the UK's digital and economic infrastructure', enabling large amounts of 'information processing using artificial intelligence – powering everything from NHS online services and national security operations to cloud storage, financial transactions and digital entertainment'.
The submission of the PoAN now marks the start of the statutory 12-week pre-application consultation process. Apatura says it intends to 'pursue a dual-application route to both Stirling and Falkirk Councils and the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit (ECU)', which reflect the 'strategic significance of the project both locally and nationally'.
The firm will host two public consultations on the plans. The first will be held on Wednesday, September 3, at Glenbervie House & Country Estate from 3-8pm. A second consultation event will then be held on Tuesday, October 7, at Glenbervie House & Country Estate, also from 3-8pm.
Apatura says that the proposed campus would 'represent a major investment in the local and regional economy if approved and would bring £2.1 billion total capital investment with £189 million of construction spend retained in the local supply chain; would create 2,164 jobs across Scotland annually, 395 locally across the four-year construction period.
Once operational, they say that the site will create 1,426 jobs across Scotland with, 565 permanent roles, including 297 on-site.
The proposed site at Old Plean comprises approximately 43.1 hectares in total. The proposed plot of land is located within the administrative area of Stirling Council and Falkirk Council.
The applicant is required to consult with local community councils whose area the planned development falls within or adjoins the land where the proposed development is situated. Plean Community Council and Denny & District Community Council have been informed of the plans, along with councillors and MPs.
Bannockburn councillor, Alasdair Macpherson, whose ward includes the proposed site, said that it's 'vital that the community take a real interest in this consultation', saying that, if approved, the proposal could ' bring cutting edge technology and very exciting jobs to the local area.'
Cllr Macpherson added: 'It's my job as local councillor to ensure that if the developers decide to submit a formal application that the proposal is compliant with the Local Development Plan, the local community extracts the maximum benefit from the development and disruption is kept to a minimum, if it was to eventually get consent'.
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