The Scottish spaceport stuck in limbo
A site on A'Mhoine Peninsula was selected for a spaceport
- Published
A Highland peatbog was to be home to the UK's first spaceport.
But more than six years after a UK government announcement confirming the plan, rockets launching from Sutherland Spaceport seems unlikely any time soon.
Where is the spaceport site?
It is on A'Mhoine Peninsula, a landscape of moorland, peatbogs, grazing pastures, lochs and hills in north west Sutherland.
The 86-acre (35ha) site is owned by Melness Crofters' Estate.
The estate, which covers a total area of 10,000 acres (4,074 ha), is run by crofters.
Crofting is a system of land tenure and farming unique to Scotland.
The nearest homes from the spaceport's boundary are just over two miles (3km) away.
Tongue, a community of about 500 people, is about four miles (6km) away.
Why Sutherland?
The area has been billed as one of the few places in Europe that is sparsely populated and in the right place for launching small rockets vertically into space.
A north facing coast means rockets avoid flying over populated areas - and ideally placed for launching small satellites into commercially-desirable orbits.
The plan for Sutherland was for 12 launches a year and satellites designed for monitoring climate change.
Public agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been leading the project.
It previously said the spaceport would bring much-needed highly skilled jobs and investment to the Highlands.
The facility was to be developed as part of a wider network of spaceports.
The billionaire opponents
The Holch Povlsens own land in Sutherland and had concerns about the spaceport's environmental impacts
After Conservative business secretary Greg Clark announced a package of support back in July 2018 at Farnborough International Air Show the project hit a number of milestones in the planning process:
Scottish Land Court, which hears disputes in crofting and farming, approved a change use of the land in September 2021
Highland Council granted full planning permission in August 2020
Amended plans were given the go-ahead in October this year
But this journey has been far from smooth.
Some crofters objected because of concerns about the spaceport's impact on the environment, local roads and crofting rights.
Billionaire couple Anders and Anne Holch Povlsen, who own land near the site, also objected because of concerns about its impact on the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area, external.
Their opposition even saw them invest almost £1.5m in a rival project - Shetland's SaxaVord Spaceport.
A project in limbo
The news broke at the start of December.
Orbex, one of the major backers of Sutherland Spaceport, announced construction was paused and it was instead focused on launching its first rockets from SaxaVord.
The rocket manufacturer, which employs 150 people at a factory in Forres in Moray, did not rule out completing the Highland site in the future.
But chief executive Phil Chambers said: "Our primary goal is to support the European space industry by achieving a sustainable series of satellite launches into low Earth orbit.
"This is best achieved by focusing our resources and talents on developing launch vehicles and associated launch services.
"This decision will help us to reach first launch in 2025 and provides SaxaVord with another customer to further strengthen its commercial proposition. It's a win-win for UK and Scottish space."
HIE said the decision was an "unexpected change in direction", but added it was important to stress Orbex was a very significant player and employer in the UK space industry.
Sutherland Spaceport costs and investment
£17mExpected cost of the facility
£1.9mHIE grants up to November 2024 given to Orbex for costs associated with developing the site
£2mHIE previously invested. UK Space Agency also gave £2.5m and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority £2.6m
![In numbers:. Sutherland Spaceport costs and investment [ £17m Expected cost of the facility ],[ £1.9m HIE grants up to November 2024 given to Orbex for costs associated with developing the site ] [ £2m HIE previously invested. UK Space Agency also gave £2.5m and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority £2.6m ], Source: Source: HIE, Image: An illustration of a rocket launch from Sutherland Spaceport. The rocket leaves a trail of smoke as it lifts off.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/920/idt2/idt2/1eccdb27-050d-4868-b6e5-d72497e7c947/image/460)
What next?
Melness Crofters' Estate (MCE) wants to work with HIE and Orbex to get the spaceport operational.
A spokesperson told BBC Scotland News: "We were never just doing this for Melness.
"We saw this as planting a seed of something from which other opportunities could grow for the wider community in the north.
"There are very few job opportunities for young people in our area."
They added: "Our payments from the rental of our land have already resulted in MCE investing in several other local projects.
"There are plans for 12 affordable houses in planning at the moment."
HIE said the impact of Orbex decision was unclear.
It added: "We want to send a clear message to local people in north Sutherland that we are deeply disappointed at this turn of events and remain committed to working with them to develop a positive future for Melness and the surrounding area."