October 23, 225
A former coal storage site in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland, has taken a significant step toward a new future as a potential hyperscale data center. The East Lothian Council has selected UK investment firm Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) as the preferred supplier for the landmark redevelopment project.
The selection follows a competitive tender process, which was agreed upon via a private report to the Council in February 2025. The Council reported receiving a large number of inquiries from various operators interested in the site.
While the project is still in its initial stages, several key processes must be completed before construction can begin. These include a full planning application and public consultations. Legal agreements are expected to take up to a year to finalize before the statutory consultation stage is reached. However, the partners have expressed a commitment to engaging with local communities as soon as possible, with further details on these steps to be confirmed in the near future.
If planning permission is secured, the Council intends to form a joint venture with SDCL to develop the project.
John McMillan, East Lothian Council’s spokesperson for Economic Development, emphasized the potential benefits. “While this process is still at an initial stage, it marks an important step forward in the potential redevelopment of part of this key site,” McMillan stated. “In addition to capital investment, construction, and permanent employment, there are potential opportunities to secure long-term community benefits such as support for education and training programs in partnership with local providers. We will be working closely with SDCL and other partners to ensure any development maximizes benefits to our communities.”
Jonathan Maxwell, founder and CEO of SDCL, shared his enthusiasm for the project. “We are delighted to have been selected as the partner for this landmark project,” Maxwell said. “Cockenzie has an extraordinary history in Scotland’s energy and industrial heritage, and this stands as a phenomenal opportunity for it to take a leading role in the new industrial revolution. We are looking forward to working closely with the community in East Lothian to help the project achieve its full potential and create employment and economic growth for the region."
Further specific details regarding the proposed data center’s capacity or investment value were not disclosed.
Established in 2007, SDCL is a developer, investor, and fund manager with a focus on energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. The proposed development signals a continued trend of growth in Scotland's data center market, which is currently small and predominantly based in Edinburgh, where nine data center locations are listed. In a similar move, plans were announced in August to transform a former oil and gas rig production site in Dunoon into a data center campus, with developers seeking its designation as one of the UK government’s AI Growth Zones.
SOURCE DCD
