LANARKSHIRE — DataVita is extending its Chapelhall datacentre in Lanarkshire, a region designated as an AI growth zone by the UK government. The expansion is part of a project co-developed by CoreWeave and DataVita.

Representatives from Oakes Energy Services visited residents in Newarthill in late 2024. During these engagements, Oakes Energy Services offered residents options such as free solar panels, tree planting, or cash for their properties. Resident Diane Davidson said, "It was a sweetener: don't oppose this and you'll be OK, kind of thing." She added, "None of these sweeteners are enforceable, there's nothing written down."

The UK government designated Lanarkshire as an AI growth zone two months after Oakes Energy Services' visits to residents. A government press release stated the Lanarkshire site would include datacentres, supportive infrastructure, and a renewables park. The announcement included promises of 3,400 new jobs and a community fund of up to £543 million for local programmes. DataVita, an arm of a Glasgow real-estate firm, stated it will have one gigawatt of power supplied by energy parks connected directly to its datacentres.

Conservative estimates indicate that achieving one gigawatt of power from energy parks would require 44 square kilometers of land. DataVita currently appears to have less than one-tenth of the land required for its stated power objectives. A Scottish government audit states that DataVita's proposal includes using available adjacent land at both sites for the construction of renewable energy parks.

Locogen submitted a planning application for a solar farm adjacent to the DataVita site. Locogen stated it has no commercial connection with DataVita. DataVita stated it has no commercial connection with Locogen or Oakes Energy Services. Local authorities and the Scottish government on appeal rebuffed plans for a luxury housing development known as EuroPark on land near Airdrie in June 2023.