Eneus Energy faces protests over £10 billion Hunterston data centre

Developers behind a proposed £10 billion data centre campus in Hunterston have faced protests during a pre-planning consultation in West Kilbride. Eneus Energy, the company behind the project, claims the development could create 360 long-term jobs and provide a significant economic boost to the region.

Opponents of the project have raised concerns regarding the scale of the development, which would cover approximately 131 acres of countryside. Campaigners argue the facility would negatively impact local wildlife, including protected species such as the Leisler's bat, as well as the surrounding landscape and community. A petition opposing the scheme has already gathered more than 5,000 signatures.

Eneus Energy maintains that the project is necessary to meet the increasing demand for digital infrastructure driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud-based storage, and streaming services.