Dear Supporters,

Thank you again to everyone who has signed and shared our petition opposing the proposed 200MW Wester Hermiston Data Centre campus. Your support continues to demonstrate the depth of local concern about the scale and impact of this development.

We want to update you on an important recent decision.

On 6 May, the City of Edinburgh Council issued a “Negative Screening Opinion” (Ref: 25/05576/SCR). This means the Council has concluded that the proposal does not require a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at this stage.

For many residents, this is disappointing given the exceptional scale of the proposed development and the range of environmental and infrastructure issues involved.

Why This Matters

An Environmental Impact Assessment is the highest level of environmental review available within the planning system. It is designed to ensure that major developments are assessed transparently and comprehensively before decisions are taken.

The Council’s screening opinion acknowledges several significant issues associated with the proposal, including:

• The permanent loss of approximately 30.5 hectares of Class 2 prime agricultural land, one of Scotland’s most limited and nationally important soil resources. There is ONLY 1.38% of all the agricultural land in Scotland graded Class 2. This field is there to feed people not data centres!
• The very substantial projected electricity demand associated with a 200MW data centre campus.
• The use of extensive backup power infrastructure, including large-scale diesel generator systems.
• Potential impacts on landscape character, visual amenity, and the setting of the Union Canal corridor.
• Future considerations relating to water demand, drainage, noise, transport, and air quality.

However, the Council’s position is that these matters can be addressed through the normal planning application process and planning conditions, rather than through a full EIA process.

Many in the community remain concerned that developments of this scale should undergo the most robust level of environmental scrutiny available before decisions progress further.

What Happens Next

Importantly, this is not planning permission.

A full planning application has still not been submitted, and there will be further opportunities for public comment and scrutiny.

As a volunteer-led local campaign group, we are now carefully reviewing the Council’s screening opinion alongside planning policy, including National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Edinburgh Local Development Plan.

We are also continuing discussions with organisations and advisers who can help us better understand the environmental and legal implications of the decision.

How You Can Help

Our campaign continues to grow because local residents care deeply about the future of West Edinburgh.

Here are two simple ways you can help:

Share the petition with friends, neighbours, and local community groups who may not yet be aware of the proposal. If we can get to 10,000 signatures on our petition this can help us massively.

Write to your councillors, MSPs and MPs to protest against this development.

Stay engaged by following updates, submitting comments during future planning consultations, and encouraging balanced public discussion based on evidence and planning policy.

This campaign is about ensuring that developments of this scale receive the level of scrutiny, transparency, and community engagement that residents expect and deserve.

Thank you again for your continued support.

West Edinburgh Against Data Centres