The UK’s first spaceport had been planned to be built on the peatlands of the Scottish Highlands. But after six years of planning for rocket launches from this Sutherland facility, the project has not progressed any further, and looks unlikely to progress anytime soon.
Spaceport location
The spaceport is located on the A’Mhoine Peninsula in the northwest of the Scottish county of Sutherland. This region is famous for its unique landscape, which includes bogs, peatlands, pastures, lakes and hills. The 35 hectare site is part of Melness Crofters’ Estate, which in total covers 4,074 hectares and is managed by local farmers.
The nearest residences are located 3 km from the spaceport site boundary, and the Tongue community of about 500 people is 6 km away.
Why did they choose Sutherland?
This sparsely populated area is an ideal location for small rocket launches. The North Coast ensures the safety of the launches as the rockets will not fly over populated areas. The spaceport was scheduled to carry out 12 launches a year, mostly for satellites that monitor climate change. The project was led by government agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which expected to create new high-skilled jobs and attract investment to the region.
Obstacles and protests
Despite Scottish Land Court approval in 2021 and full planning permission in 2020, the project has faced resistance. Some farmers expressed concerns about the impact on the environment, local roads and landowner rights. Billionaire couple Anders and Anne Holch Povlsen, who own land nearby, also protested because of the threat to the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area. They have invested £1.5m in a competitor, Saxaward Spaceport in the Shetland Islands.
Uncertain future
In December, Orbex, one of the project’s key partners, said it was suspending construction of the Sutherland spaceport, choosing instead Saxaward for its first launches. Despite this, the company has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Highland project in the future. Orbex chief executive Phil Chambers said the decision would allow the company to focus on building launch vehicles and achieving its first launch in 2025, while supporting the European space industry.
HIE called the decision “unexpected” but emphasized the importance of Orbex to the UK space industry. Melness Crofters’ Estate (MCE) has also expressed a desire to continue working with HIE and Orbex, emphasizing that the project is creating new opportunities for young people in the region.
Next steps
Despite the uncertainty, MCE is already using rental payments to fund local initiatives, particularly the construction of 12 affordable houses. HIE assures that it will continue to work with the local community to create a positive future for Melness and the surrounding areas.
We previously reported on how SpaceX was aiming to give the Starbase space complex city status.
Provided by BBC
