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carried out annually, with the first taking place in the early 2020s.”

But the scoping document submitted to planners says it will be up to 40.

The £ 17.3m project is backed by the UK Space Agency, which is also funding two launch firms planning to set up in Sutherland, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Orbex. Space Hub Sutherland is p l a n n ed as a key component of Scotland’s growing space sector, said HIE, which expected 40 high- quality jobs to be created locally. But the launch site at the Mhoine peninsula is beside the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Special Area of Co n s e r v a t i o n, and th e Ben Hutig Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The report says: “It is anticipated there could be approximately 40 launches per calendar year. Different launch service providers would provide different LVS ( launch vehicles). It is expected the largest LV would be approximately 15m- 30m in height and 1m-2m in diameter.”

John Williams, chairman of the Protect the Mhoine c ampa i g n g r o u p, sai d : “People were led to believe there would be up to six launches a year and that the rockets would be 17m high. Now we find there will be welcome all sensible, serious debate...but the claims some campaigners are making are nothing short of baffling.”

HIE said: “Space Hub Sutherland is a hugely ambitious and complex project that is at a relatively early stage of its development.

“The p u r p o se of the c u r re n t initial scoping exercise is to seek input from statutory bodies and a range of interested parties that will guide a future environmental impact assessment. It is not a planning application.”

‘ accusations. Their claims are baffling