A renewables firm planning a 300MW AI data center campus in Scotland is now targeting a new site three miles from its original planned location.

Apartura had originally intended to build the data center on agricultural land near Plean, outside Falkirk, in the county of Stirling.

But this week the firm detailed its intention to instead house the campus on land at Glenbervie Business Centre in Larbert, three miles from Plean, lodging a pre-planning application with local authorities.

The Larbert development would feature a 300MW data center and battery storage for renewable energy. Granting permission would “enable a multi-billion-pound investment in a hyperscale green AI data centre and Battery Energy Storage System, supporting the region’s ambitions for a strong, inclusive, and sustainable local economy,” according to the application.

Speaking to the Daily Record, local councilor Alasdair Macpherson said: “This is very disappointing news for Plean and the wider Stirling Council area. It’s my understanding that the historical mine workings around Plean made it more challenging for the developers – so they took the easy option in locating it at Glenbervie.

“Whilst it’s a blow for Plean, given the close proximity to Stirling, I’m sure the proposed development will still have a positive economic impact on the surrounding area.”

The pre-planning stage will allow local people to comment on the application, and a consultation event has been planned for October 28 at Glenbervie House & Country Estate.

Founded in 2014, Apatura describes itself in the application as a leader in energy infrastructure development, with a 10.6GW portfolio of grid-secured energy projects, including 1.8GW of grid connections targeting data center developments.

Full details about the company’s other data center developments aren’t clear, but the BBC recently said the company has five sites in development across the country.

The company recently filed to develop a 200MW data center campus at a former coal site outside Cumnock, in southwest Scotland’s East Ayrshire, alongside a large-scale BESS.

It is also planning a 500MW data center and BESS campus at the former Ravenscraig Steelworks site in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. Another 300MW data center and BESS development is also in the works in Coldstream, a town on the northwest border with England.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Apatura has BESS projects planned in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire; East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire; Eaglesham and Neilston, East Renfrewshire; Denny, Falkirk; Devonside, Clackmannanshire; and Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.