ILI Group has submitted a planning application for a 600MW data centre near Auchtertool in Fife. The proposed scheme is the first project in the developer's planned Stoics network across Scotland's Central Belt.
The project, called Cato, is being proposed as a hyperscale facility for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other data-intensive digital services. The development would involve about GBP £5 billion of investment and be built in phases over several years.
ILI Group has applied for planning permission in principle for the site, which is identified for employment use in the current Fife Local Development Plan. The land is also not designated as Green Belt.
Cato would have a 600MW grid connection at maximum capacity. The site has an approved Gate 2 grid position, a step that underpins access to electricity network capacity for large developments.
Economic impact
Economic analysis by BiGGAR Economics estimated that construction could generate about GBP £708 million in Gross Value Added across Scotland, including around GBP £105 million in Fife. It also projected about 9,660 job-years during construction across Scotland, with around 1,450 of those in Fife.
Once operational, the project is expected to support around 540 jobs across Scotland, including about 262 in Fife. ILI Group said the development could generate more than GBP £30 million in annual Gross Value Added locally, while the site itself would support around 120 permanent skilled jobs once fully built out.
The proposal comes as developers and investors seek sites with access to land, grid connections and water supplies to meet rising demand for computing infrastructure linked to AI services. Backers of new schemes have presented Scotland as a potential location for such facilities because of its renewable electricity resources and the availability of large development sites.
Power and water
ILI Group said Cato would run on renewable electricity. It added that projects of this kind can help create long-term demand for renewable power and support investment in grid infrastructure.
The developer also outlined expected water use for the development, with annual consumption of about 34,000 cubic metres. It described this as equivalent to the yearly use of around 239 homes.
According to ILI Group, the data centre would be supplied through infrastructure separate from the network serving Auchtertool village. It added that Scottish Water had confirmed sufficient capacity for the site.
Wider network
Cato is intended to be the first development in The Stoics, a wider network of three proposed large-scale data centres across Scotland's Central Belt. The planned portfolio also includes Rufus in East Ayrshire at 540MW and Aurelius in North Lanarkshire at 400MW.
Taken together, the three schemes would amount to about 1.5GW of data centre capacity. Combined planned investment across the network stands at around GBP £15 billion, according to ILI Group.
Most of the wider Cato site area would remain undeveloped, the company said. Proposed environmental measures include new woodland, wetland and wildflower meadow habitats, with some plans shaped by feedback gathered during local consultation.
ILI Group said it has held discussions with local stakeholders and community representatives as the proposals have developed. It is also exploring skills, training and apprenticeship opportunities linked to the construction and operation of the facility, alongside a proposed community benefit fund.
Mark Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of ILI Group, said: "The submission of this planning application marks a major milestone for both Cato and Scotland's digital infrastructure ambitions. Demand for data processing and AI infrastructure is growing rapidly across the world, and Scotland is well placed to play a leading role in meeting that demand thanks to its skilled workforce, strong renewable energy resources and existing industrial expertise. Cato represents a significant opportunity for Fife, bringing substantial investment, supporting high-quality jobs and helping to establish the region as a key location for future digital infrastructure. We look forward to continuing our engagement with local communities and stakeholders as the application progresses through the planning process."