---
title: "‘It’s smoke and mirrors’: hope turns to fear in Scottish village chosen for AI datacentre"
slug: "its-smoke-and-mirrors-hope-turns-to-fear-in-scottish-village-chosen-for-ai-datacentre"
date: 2026-07-06
category: tech-pub
tags: []
language: en
sources_count: 1
featured: false
publisher: AInauten News
url: https://news.ainauten.com/en/story/its-smoke-and-mirrors-hope-turns-to-fear-in-scottish-village-chosen-for-ai-datacentre
---

# ‘It’s smoke and mirrors’: hope turns to fear in Scottish village chosen for AI datacentre

**Published**: 2026-07-06 | **Category**: tech-pub | **Sources**: 1

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## TL;DR

- In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill.

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## Summary

- In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill. CoreWeave and DataVita are expected to build datacentres there, with energy and solar projects nearby.
- Residents say company representatives went door to door with offers such as solar panels, tree planting or cash for property. According to the Guardian, little of that appears enforceable in writing.
- The headline promises look PR-heavy: 3,400 jobs and up to £543m for a community fund, while the fund is apparently not yet filled and the jobs figure relies on broad estimates.
- The energy story is shaky too. A promise of on-site renewable power has shifted toward grid connection; DataVita’s 1GW plan would need about 44 sq km of land by one estimate, far more than appears secured.

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## Why it matters

In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill. CoreWeave and DataVita are expected to build datacentres there, with energy and solar projects nearby.

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## Key Points

- In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill. CoreWeave and DataVita are expected to build datacentres there, with energy and solar projects nearby.
- Residents say company representatives went door to door with offers such as solar panels, tree planting or cash for property. According to the Guardian, little of that appears enforceable in writing.
- The headline promises look PR-heavy: 3,400 jobs and up to £543m for a community fund, while the fund is apparently not yet filled and the jobs figure relies on broad estimates.
- The energy story is shaky too. A promise of on-site renewable power has shifted toward grid connection; DataVita’s 1GW plan would need about 44 sq km of land by one estimate, far more than appears secured.

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## Nauti's Take

This is not anti-AI backlash. It is a governance test. Datacentres need power, land and political honesty. If officials put 3,400 jobs, green energy and a half-billion-pound community fund in the press release, locals deserve hard evidence. Without that, an AI Growth Zone starts to look like a property and energy play with an AI label.

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## FAQ

**Q:** What is ‘It’s smoke and mirrors’ about?

**A:** - In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill.

**Q:** Why does it matter?

**A:** In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill. CoreWeave and DataVita are expected to build datacentres there, with energy and solar projects nearby.

**Q:** What are the key takeaways?

**A:** In Lanarkshire, resistance is growing against a planned AI Growth Zone around Newarthill. CoreWeave and DataVita are expected to build datacentres there, with energy and solar projects nearby.. Residents say company representatives went door to door with offers such as solar panels, tree planting or cash for property. According to the Guardian, little of that appears enforceable in writing.. The headline promises look PR-heavy: 3,400 jobs and up to £543m for a community fund, while the fund is apparently not yet filled and the jobs figure relies on broad estimates.

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## Related Topics

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## Sources

- [‘It’s smoke and mirrors’: hope turns to fear in Scottish village chosen for AI datacentre](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/06/scotland-lanarkshire-village-ai-datacentre) - The Guardian AI

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## About This Article

This article is a synthesis of 1 sources, curated and summarized by AInauten News. We aggregate AI news from trusted sources and provide bilingual (German/English) coverage.

**Publisher**: [AInauten](https://www.ainauten.com) | **Site**: [news.ainauten.com](https://news.ainauten.com)

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*Last Updated: 2026-07-06*