Spango Valley Data Centre Plan Sparks Controversy in Inverclyde

Plans to build an AI data centre at the former IBM site in Spango Valley have sparked intense debate among residents and local leaders. Slate Island Developments wants to create a massive 80,000-square-metre facility on the site, which was once home to IBM.

The development would bring investment and jobs to Greenock, according to the developers, but critics argue that it would consume significant amounts of land and energy while generating relatively few permanent jobs. Local councillors James Daisley and Paul Cassidy have both publicly opposed the proposal, citing concerns about noise, environmental impacts, and flood risk.

The site has been vacant since IBM left nearly a decade ago, and the developers argue that a data centre would be a more sustainable use of the land than a housing development. However, opponents claim that replacing a housing-led masterplan with a large-scale data centre could undermine efforts to attract families to Inverclyde.

With over 1,600 objections submitted, the debate has become one of the most contentious planning issues facing Inverclyde. The developers insist they have engaged extensively with both the council and local communities, but critics argue that more needs to be done to address their concerns.