Space project would be huge boost to north economy

The ambitious plans for a spaceport to be based in Sutherland – supporting around 400 jobs – were officially announced on Monday.

Small rockets with satellites are proposed to begin launching

– initially around six a year – from a base at the Moine in the early 2020s.

The bid saw off competition from a number of locations to become the site of the UK’s first space centre.

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is expected to establish the vertical launch operations in the north of Scotland while developing associated technologies in Reading, with the backing of UK Space Agency grants worth £23.5 million.

A further £5.5m will go to British company Orbex to build innovative new rockets to launch from the site.

North politicians said the project would boost employment in the area, reverse population decline in fragile communities and become a tourist attraction.