Sutherland spaceport plans receive local authority green light
Highland Council’s approved plans by Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Satellites could be setting off from Sutherland in just a couple of years following Highland Council planning approval today for a space hub on the Melness Crofters Estate.
The multi-million pound project put forward by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to build a vertical launch spaceport has been given lift-off to proceed to the next stage.
The committee’s decision will now be referred to Scottish Government ministers for review.
The space hub is currently an area of peatland next to the A838 on the A’ Mhòine peninsula, around six miles from Tongue.
As part of its planning application, HIE commissioned specialists to carry out extensive environmental impact assessments over a two-year period.
Conditions set out by the planning authority are to ensure that both construction works and site operations will minimise any potential impact on wildlife and the natural environment.
The board’s decision reflected the potential of the spaceport to drive the national growth of the space sector, including manufacturing and supply chain jobs and training opportunities.
Longer term, developing the spaceport could support around 250 jobs in the Highlands, including 61 in Sutherland and Caithness – 44 of them on-site at the space hub.
HIE’s launch partner Orbex has already established a design and manufacturing facility in Forres, Moray, as a base to make the innovative Prime vehicle that it plans to assemble and put into orbit from Sutherland.
Satellites launched from the Sutherland site will be used for Earth observation, including gathering data to monitor and address the effects of climate change around the world.
The first launch could be as early as 2022. Once the spaceport is fully operational, it could host up to 12 launches a year.
David Oxley, director of business growth with HIE, welcomed the committee’s decision.
“Gaining planning approval from the council is a huge step forward for Space Hub Sutherland,” he said.
“Part of our ambition is to create the world’s most low-carbon space centre and the conditions applied to the planning approval will help us make that a reality.
“Another important aspect is the role that satellites we launch from Sutherland will play in gathering data that helps understand and address the impact of global climate change.
“When all these factors are put together, that makes today’s decision a good result not just for the economy, but for the environment as well.”