AI
Police warn of attacks on Scottish AI datacentre
Police Scotland warns of disruption at a proposed Larbert AI datacentre as residents cite pollution, noise and power demands.
Police Scotland says developers of a proposed AI datacentre in Larbert must adopt “robust security measures” because significant public opposition could lead to disruptive incursions. The warning, reported by The Guardian, appeared in a planning-consultation letter submitted in August 2026.
The letter urged the developer to work with police to prevent “unplanned incursions for the purposes of disruption.” Police Scotland declined to comment publicly on the warning.
More than 100 people attended a protest in Larbert on Thursday, according to local campaigners, while nearly 7,000 objections have been filed against the development. Further demonstrations are planned, including one in Edinburgh in early September when the Scottish parliament returns.
Why Larbert residents oppose the project
The planned site, around 30 miles west of Edinburgh, is being developed by Apatura. Residents have raised concerns about its physical footprint, noise and backup power system, which would include 200 diesel generators.
Michael Maciocia, a Larbert resident who attended the protest, said the site would be close to healthcare facilities, including a 56-bed terminal-care home within 50 metres and the 860-bed Forth Valley Royal hospital within 400 metres.
“The amount of pollution and the noise created by these things will be horrendous in every direction.”
— Michael Maciocia, Larbert resident
The Edinburgh-based charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland has raised concerns that the generators could release significant quantities of nitrous oxide, potentially affecting nearby residents. Hazel McQueen, who lives close to the proposed site, said she was worried about the impact on her family and grandson, who has leukaemia.
The opposition comes as datacentre development expands across Scotland. At least 23 hyperscale projects are in the planning process, according to APRS. Combined, they would require more than 1.5 times Scotland’s peak electricity demand. Across Britain, hundreds of datacentre projects are at various planning stages, although research groups have warned that many may be “zombie projects” unable to connect to the grid.
The Scottish National party passed a motion during summer 2026 calling for a freeze on all new datacentres. If adopted as Scottish government policy, the freeze could conflict with the UK government’s push to attract datacentre development to Scotland.
Cecilia Rikap, a professor at University College London, said datacentres have become a visible target for broader opposition to generative AI and big technology companies.
“It’s the physical manifestation of AI, and there is a growing opposition to AI. People are seeing how AI is replacing the good part of their work, people are seeing how AI is undermining younger people’s capacity to think.”
— Cecilia Rikap, professor at University College London
Apatura said it would follow safety and environmental standards and planning regulations, while working with the government and local community during the planning process. The project’s planning decision and any construction timetable were not stated.