Scotland faces massive AI investment proposal at Chapelcross

CX Tech Limited has submitted a planning application for the CX Technology Campus, a proposed £16.5 billion artificial intelligence development located north of the former Chapelcross nuclear power station in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The project aims to establish one of the world’s largest data-centre developments, featuring eight large buildings, a training centre, industrial space, and a substation with a proposed computing capacity of approximately one gigawatt.

The development is projected to create up to 750 construction jobs over an eight-year period, roughly 450 permanent direct jobs, and 320 local apprenticeships. However, the scale of the project has raised concerns regarding massive electricity demand, environmental impact, and land use.

Regional investment in data centres across Scotland and northern Britain is being driven by potential energy advantages and digital infrastructure strategies. Policy examples suggest that qualifying developments could benefit from targeted electricity discounts to mitigate grid constraints, with reported potential rates of £24 per megawatt-hour in Scotland.