TO kick off our AI data centre series, editor Laura Webster sat down with multimedia reporter Jamie Calder to answer your questions on the new proposals.
There are at least 23 sites being earmarked for data centre construction, some of which are actively being considered for approval.
So as a battle over Scotland's future unfolds in the corridors of Holyrood and on the streets of Auchtertool, Chapelhall and Larbert, we want to keep you informed.
Jamie has been covering data centres for all of 2026, first looking into the topic when developers Shelborn Drummond submitted an application for planning permission at the former Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in South Gyle, Edinburgh.
Over that time he has dove into the technical characteristics of data centre cooling, backup generators and Scotland's often convoluted planning system.
In today's podcast, readers were able to submit their own questions based on their own concerns.
This brought up the topics of water consumption, local job prospects and who actually owns these data centres.
Laura also came with her own questions for Jamie, asking what brought the topic to his attention and what stands out, after more than eight months of reporting, as some of the key and hidden issues.
The live Q&A comes as a three-part podcast special for the data centre series. Also available through The National Podcast is an interview with Kat Jones, director of campaign group Action to Protect Rural Scotland, and a Q&A hosted by political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie where she put readers' questions to the CEO and chief planning officer of ILI Group.
The Q&A with Laura and Jamie can be found here, or by clicking the video shown below.
You can find all of our articles included in the AI data centre series here as they are published throughout this week.
