Scotland emerging as key growth market for data centre developers

Dan Evans, Associate Director at Lichfields, discusses the results of the company’s recent data centre study, which finds that, for developers, Scotland offers something few regions or countries can match - abundant low-carbon energy, space for expansion and a strong engineering base. The combination of renewable generation, cool climate and established technical skills creates ideal conditions for sustainable data centre operations. Dan also explains that, while Scotland meets the growing demand from investors and operators looking for sites that balance performance, cost and environmental responsibility, developers need clarity on where projects will be supported and how long approvals will take - a consistent national position, backed by local planning frameworks.