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Sutherland Spaceport construction
The latest community updates in relation to Sutherland Spaceport
Sutherland Spaceport (formally Space Hub Sutherland) was granted planning permission in November 2020 and in November 2022 it was announced that Orbex will build and operate the facility.
On 4 December 2024, Orbex announced that it will pause the construction of Sutherland Spaceport. Orbex will retain its lease to build and operate the Spaceport at Sutherland in order to give it flexibility to increase launch capacity in the future. This will be kept under continuous review. Read more here.
This page will be used to share updates on construction progress, the Community Liaison Group and spaceport related news stories and jobs. More details about the launch site and why the north of Scotland is a great place to launch satellites can be found on our Launch Site page.
Planning Update
Changes to the Spaceport Scheme
Following a review of the spaceport requirements by Orbex, the launch site operator for the spaceport, a number of changes require to be made to the scheme that was unanimously supported by the North Planning Applications Committee and granted planning permission in August 2020. As a result, a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) was submitted to The Council on 2 November 2023.
The changes are primarily within the same footprint as the existing scheme and their purpose is to further reduce any environmental impacts of the spaceport both during construction and operations.
Ahead of submitting a planning application for these changes, we held consultation sessions in order to capture the opinions of those with an interest in the spaceport, and particularly people based in the local area. During these sessions we shared information about the proposed changes and answered questions that people raised.
The sessions were held on the below dates in the Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue, and were publicised via the Community Liaison Group, in the Tongue and Melness Post Offices and the Kyle Centre, and via the local newspaper:
5 December 2023, 12 – 2pm and 5 – 8pm
8 February 2024, 12 – 2pm and 5 – 8pm (please note that original date of 18 January 2024 cancelled due to weather)
You can view information shared at the consultation sessions on 5 December 2023 and 8 February 2024 here.
The formal Planning Application associated with the PoAN was issued to The Highland Council on Thursday, 21 March 2024.
The Planning Application was discussed at the North Highland Planning Committee on 29 October 2024 and was granted.
Latest
Construction update
Work at Sutherland Spaceport began in April 2023.
- The bellmouth of the spaceport site has now been created.
- 17 local passing places have been improved (in line with the planning permission).
- Work on the access (floating) road continues.
- The car park area has been completed.
- Over 2100m of the floating road leading to the Launch Service Integration Facility (LSIF) and Launch Pad has been completed.
- Two watercourse crossing bridges have been installed.
We'll post regular progress updates here including details if any traffic management in place.
PDF Downloads
In this section we share media updates that have been issued in relation to the construction works and Spaceport Community Liaison Group information.
Current vacancies
Spaceport jobs
We are currently not advertising any jobs at Sutherland Spaceport. Future jobs will be advertised here, so please check back regularly for updates.
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