Hopes have been expressed that Glenrothes will become a Scottish technology hub after plans for the country’s largest data centre were given the green light.
Members of Fife Council’s central area planning committee approved plans for the complex at the town’s Queensway Industrial Estate on Monday, with the project expected to create in the region of 350 construction and permanent jobs.
The site, which will host some of the most sophisticated data servers and computer equipment in the country, is expected to appeal to high-profile firms in the finance and energy sectors, with the stored data being used to identify new business trends.
Councillor Altany Craig, the region’s economy convener, said the news was a significant boost to Glenrothes.
‘The data centre is an exciting development bringing much needed high tech jobs to Glenrothes,” he said.
“I am pleased to see it pass the planning committee and look forward to seeing it on the ground.
“I hope that it can be the cornerstone of digital developments in Glenrothes in the coming years.”
The new building will become one of the most technologically advanced in Fife when it opens and form the heart of a wider business park to be developed within the heart of Glenrothes.
Featuring high-speed internet lines demanded by the world’s top businesses, the centre will feature network connections stretching more than 7,500km across the UK and beyond to the rest of the world.
As well as the largest facility of its kind in the country, the new complex would also be the most energy efficient.
It is anticipated that around 300 construction jobs will be created now that planning permission has been granted, while up to 50 permanent posts could follow once the completed complex opens for business.
Given the sophisticated nature of the work, Glenrothes councillor Mick Green stated his hopes that local people would benefit from the new data centre.
“It is great news but I hope that these jobs are kept local,” he said.
“It is something that will certainly put us on the map and it is great news and very exciting that people in these industries are looking at Glenrothes,” he added.
