Private prototype. Facts from research on 2 to 3 October 2026; not yet reviewed for publication. Forms do not submit.
Early stageCurrie and Riccarton, Edinburgh

Keep Wester Hermiston's Green Belt green

Apatura wants to build a 200MW data centre on Green Belt farmland north of Heriot-Watt's Riccarton campus. No application has been lodged yet, and Scottish Ministers have ruled that a full environmental assessment is needed.

Planning notice
Wester Hermiston data centre campus
Ref
None yet
Decides
City of Edinburgh Council
Size
200MW, 24 ha
Next
Planning application expected
What we're asking for

To City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Ministers: Keep Wester Hermiston's Green Belt free of a 200MW data centre. Make no decision before the national guidance and a full environmental assessment are in.

Why local people are worried

200MWThree data halls on farmland by the City Bypass.
Green BeltPrime farmland next to the Union Canal corridor, campaigners say.
EIAMinisters overturned the council's view that no environmental assessment was needed.

Get ready to object

There's no planning application yet, so there's nothing formal to object to. This is the time to get organised, tell the developer and councillors what you think, and be ready when the application goes in.

  • Good planning grounds include: impact on the Green Belt or countryside, energy use and carbon, water supply, noise, traffic, wildlife and heritage. Developers' promises are not guarantees: ask for them to be made binding.

Object once an application is validated on the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal; councils must notify Ministers within 7 days of validating any application over 50MW. Contact local MP/MSP meanwhile.

Read our full guide to objecting

Others campaigning here

We link to everyone working on this. Please support them too.

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Every fact on this page is sourced. See the full record on Data Centre Watch. Last checked 3 October 2026.