Thousands march in Edinburgh against AI data centres, demanding a public say

Scotland’s proposed AI data-centre buildout drew thousands of opponents onto Edinburgh’s streets on November 14, 2026, as campaigners demanded a public say before projects receive approval. Demonstrators marched down the Royal Mile towards the Scottish Parliament, bringing objections over local developments, electricity demand and climate commitments to the seat of government.

More than 80 organisations and groups supported the demonstration, according to Friends of the Earth Scotland. Its pre-march statement described a coalition spanning community campaigns, climate organisations, trade unions and anti-poverty charities. Their shared demand was a “national conversation” allowing people across Scotland to weigh in before any approvals.

Some protesters opposed proposals in Cockenzie, East Lothian, and Larbert, Falkirk. BBC Scotland has previously heard concerns from residents near proposed sites about the developments’ appearance, potential noise and the amount of land they would occupy.

The Scottish Greens and campaign groups have also called for a moratorium—a pause on large data centres. They argue that the developments could undermine climate targets and put additional pressure on renewable electricity supplies.

The scale behind the objections

Friends of the Earth Scotland says more than 20 AI data-centre proposals are at various planning stages across the country. Its calculation estimates that 23 projects would add 9.1 gigawatts to Scotland’s current peak electricity demand of 5 gigawatts, bringing the total to 14.1 gigawatts. That estimate assumes all 23 proposals proceed; it is not a measure of demand from facilities already operating.

One proposal at Chapelcross, in Dumfries and Galloway, would have a capacity of 1,000 megawatts if built. For comparison, BBC Scotland identifies DataVita’s 12-megawatt Airdrie facility as what is thought to be Scotland’s largest existing data centre.

A minister points to the planning system

Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has argued that AI could deliver “significant community benefit”. He called some discussion of data centres “wild”, challenging comparisons between Scottish proposals and developments elsewhere.

Edinburgh’s demonstration forms part of a wider European campaign, with more than 70 protests taking place across 15 countries this month, according to the BBC. Friends of the Earth Scotland said actions had already taken place in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland.