Hunterston Data Centre would have 'horrendous' impact in North Ayrshire, protesters warn

A planned data centre in North Ayrshire would have a "horrendous" impact on heritage and biodiversity, protesters have warned.

A small demonstration by the Reject Hunterston Data Centre campaign took place on Wednesday outside the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock.

Eneus Energy, the firm behind the plans for the data centre, had a stall at a B2B event within the hotel.

The campaigners held up "no data centre" signs outside the venue.

A statement from the group said: "Protesters have come to Kilmarnock to raise awareness of the proposals to build a huge data centre on a greenfield site just 50 metres from Hunterston Castle.

"The castle is 800 years old, and its rural setting is an important part of its heritage. The remains of Neolithic settlements indicate the importance of the area's archaeology.

"If this development goes ahead, the loss of heritage, landscape, and biodiversity will be horrendous.

"West Kilbride is Scotland's most innovative craft town and a popular tourist destination.

"This has been achieved by grassroots effort, and would be damaged by a huge data centre being built on this rural area.

"We're calling for a full-stop to this proposal, and any future planning application to be refused."

More from Sky News:
Trump and AI leaders asked about 'existential threat'
Pope Leo: AI safety concerns need to be taken seriously

Eneus Energy has said the proposal is in its early stages of development.

Describing the project on its website, the company said: "The data centre campus is being designed sustainably to support the growing demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and digital communications.

"By harnessing Scotland's plentiful supply of renewable energy, the project also supports the ambition of Ayrshire's local authorities to grow the region's digital economy and attract long-term investment.

"The campus would create a modern, low-carbon data centre while delivering significant benefits in terms of employment and supply chain opportunities for the local area."

Eneus Energy has been contacted for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Hunterston Data Centre would have 'horrendous' impact in North Ayrshire, protesters warn