'Save the Lammermuirs' campaign launched as data centre plans unveiled
'We're concerned about what this means for the industrialisation of greenfield land...'
Last updated 2nd Jun 2026
A campaign's being launched to stop plans to build a "giant" data centre in the Lammermuir Hills.
It follows an application to Scottish Borders Council.
The three huge warehouses - between Longformacus and Westruther - would house the IT needed to power AI.
Sunlaws Development Company, an entity of Roxburghe Estates and the landowner, says it would boost the Scottish Borders economy by around £12 million a year and create high quality jobs.
Rachael Pygall, a member of 'Save the Lammermuirs - Stop the Data Centre', told Greatest Hits Radio: "We're concerned about what this means for the industrialisation of greenfield land; the impact on wildlife - including bats and rare ground-nesting birds; increased HGV traffic; and what this actually means for our small communities going forward, because once the concrete is in, it can't be taken away.
"The proposed development is the size of 11 football pitches. To put the concerns into context, Edinburgh City Council has approved a ban on building any large-scale data centres and we are nowhere near the size of that population."
Two consultation events are taking place in the coming days - to get the public's views on the plans.
The first will be held in Longformacus Village Hall on Thursday, June 4th, with another in Westruther Village Hall the following Wednesday, June 10th.
Last week a Proposal of Application (Pan) notice was submitted to Scottish Borders Council, with the planning authority legally obliged to respond to it within 21 days, outlining whether the consultation planned is adequate.
A spokesperson for the developers said: "The site will be principally powered through local renewable energy thanks to the proximity of multiple windfarms and the Fallago Rig substation, providing access to electricity generating assets which are often curtailed due to a shortage of grid capacity.
"Over 15 years, it is estimated that the data centre could catalyse an economic benefit in the Scottish Borders area by an additional £47 million, and generate at least £776 million in tax revenues, a third of which will be in non-domestic rates payable directly to the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to support local services."
"These drop-in events will provide the opportunity for local people to find out more about the project, the extensive studies being undertaken, see early stage visualisations, and put questions to the project team.
"The full suite of surveys required for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are being undertaken, and further consultation events are anticipated as the project progresses towards the submission of a full planning application."
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The campaign group has sent out a letter to all councillors on Scottish Borders Council and local MSPs calling for their support.
Kathleen White, another member, said: “Just being up there on the hill at the edge of the site, it was really moving to be there with such a diverse group of people who all really care a lot about the area and are very committed to this campaign.
“It’s a massive site and it lies in the middle of a beautiful upland area between the Watch reservoir and the landmark hills of Dirrington Great Law and Dirrington Little Law.
“The long distance walking route of the Southern Upland Way passes close by. At this time of year you can hear skylarks, curlews and lapwings up there.
“It’s an area where you can’t imagine any other development of any size being permitted by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), let alone an industrial scale data centre, 24 metres high. So we are calling on SBC to oppose it, if a full planning application is lodged.
“We believe that the data centre will be a monster, consuming vast resources of electricity, and draining the life and beauty from the landscape. We think it is the wrong development in the wrong place.”
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