Sutherland chosen for UK spaceport

A remote part of Sutherland has been chosen as the preferred site for the UK’s first spaceport, it has been announced.

The decision means vertical rockets and satellites could be launched at the A'Mhoine Peninsula by the 2020s.

The site won out over rival bids by Scolpaig on North Uist, and Unst in Shetland.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) announced a £2.5m contribution to a project which will be led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) alongside private investors in an attempt to grow the UK space industry.

Two launchpads are expected to be developed at the site, which are likely to be run by Lockheed Martin and Orbex.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “As a nation of innovators and entrepreneurs, we want Britain to be the first place in mainland Europe to launch satellites as part of our Industrial Strategy.

“The UK’s thriving space industry, research community and aerospace supply chain put the UK in a leading position to develop both vertical and horizontal launch sites.

“This will build on our global reputation for manufacturing small satellites and help the whole country capitalise on the huge potential of the commercial space age.”

Scotland’s finance secretary Derek Mackay said the investment was “significant” to Scotland’s space sector.

“Scotland is already punching above its weight in the global space sector and with this announcement we stand ready to support the sector as it takes this exciting step forward,” he said.

Charlotte Wright, chief executive of HIE, said the local community would benefit.

“Establishing this launch site will not only deliver an exceptional local opportunity, with around 40 high quality, skilled jobs being created in a fairly remote and rural part of Sutherland,” she said.

“Crucially, we believe it will act as a driver to stimulate further space-related investment and business activity more widely across the Highlands and Islands and other parts of Scotland.  The gross impact of that will mean that around 400 jobs will be supported through the supply chain.

“We’ll be working to develop supply chain opportunities locally and across our region, and to use the spaceport’s presence to attract and encourage further business activity and investment over many years ahead.”

The UK Government also announced £2m funding for horizontal launch sites - where spacecraft are launched by aeroplanes - at Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia to "grow their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane ambitions".