Space Hub Sutherland Application Submitted To Scottish Land Court
31st August 2020
Plans to establish a vertical launch site for satellites in the north of Scotland have taken another step forward.
Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is applying to the Scottish Land Court for consent to build, operate and, ultimately, decommission Space Hub Sutherland on a crofting estate on the A'Mhoine peninsula.
The spaceport plans have already received planning approval from the Highland Council, with up to 12 launches a year permitted.
Scottish Land Court consent is required as the project would be developed on crofting land, currently classed as common grazing.
The 2,464 acre site (759 acres for core subjects, plus a 1,705-acre exclusion zone) is owned by Melness Crofters Estate, who have granted HIE a lease option.
Infrastructure planned for the spaceport includes a control centre, assembly facilities, offices, roadway, launch pad and antennas. These would occupy up to 13 acres within the core subjects’ area.
Any crofter with livestock on the common grazing would be asked to move their animals for periods around launch days. Removal would be arranged by the committee of the common grazings, who would receive compensation from the developer.
Space Hub Sutherland will be a small-scale, commercial spaceport, launching micro-satellites into orbit. HIE expects satellites launched from Sutherland to be used for telecommunications and Earth observation, including weather mapping and gathering data to monitor climate change.
Vertical launch is recognised as a key element of the UK’s growing space capability and the Sutherland project has the potential to support up to 250 high quality jobs in the Highlands and Islands, including more than 40 at the launch site itself.
Construction is scheduled to begin next year, with a view to first launch potentially taking place before the end of 2022.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
A business support programme aimed at developing the next generation of entrepreneurs is to be extended across the Highlands and Islands. IMPACT30 is currently operated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in the Highland Council area, as part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.
Cairngorm will benefit from more than £20 million to make it a year-round attraction, generating significant economic benefits for the local area and Scotland's tourism sector. Funded by the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), more than £16 million of the investment will be used to support reinstatement of Scotland's only funicular railway and bring it back into service during winter 2021-22.
Renewable energy industry groups in Scotland and Germany are joining forces to boost the production of both offshore wind energy and green hydrogen. The north of Scotland's offshore wind cluster organisation, DeepWind, has today (Wednesday 23 September 2020) signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its German counterpart, WAB.
A project to create accommodation facilities at Kishorn dry dock in Wester Ross has secured investment of up to £94,675 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Having on-site accommodation will enhance the dock's capacity and help it attract more high-end contracts in offshore renewables and oil and gas decommissioning.
£2 million for locally-led green recovery. Island communities will benefit from a £2 million programme of locally-led green projects designed to help support their economic recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
A free programme to help businesses accelerate their growth has opened for new applications, with a virtual taster session arranged for 24 September 2020. Developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the Pathfinder Accelerator programme provides fast-track training and mentoring and will be delivered completely online.
The online news hound "The Ferret has published a story today that the space hubs being proposed for Sutherland and Shetland will be used to launch spy satellites. The arms industry is preparing to use two spaceports planned for Scotland to launch military spy satellites, an investigation by The Ferret can reveal.
The Nouster Boat Store is situated on Papa Westray (known locally as Papay) and will become home for a new arts residency programme and the Bothy Museum, which is currently located at Holland Farm on the island. Papay Development Trust has been awarded £31,458 funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help it acquire and develop the Grade B Listed building.
Unlocking the potential of the Highlands and Islands will be a key factor in Scotland's recovery, writes Alistair Dodds, Chair of HIE. Nothing focuses the mind more than a crisis.
Cairngorm Estate owner, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), has responded positively to a request from stakeholders to extend the deadline, which was originally to be 31 August. Deadline extended to 15 September.
