The sessions follow the submission of a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) to the Highland Council on 2nd November 2023. The first meeting is scheduled for 5th December 2023, at the Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue, with sessions from 12 – 2 pm and 5 – 8 pm.

The proposed changes to Sutherland Spaceport aim to further reduce the environmental impact of the site’s construction and operation. These include a reduction in the size of the launch pad area, a decrease in the area of the access track that connects the launch pad to other parts of the spaceport, and adjustments to the footprint and height of the Launch Site Integration Facility (LSIF).

The Antenna Park will also be relocated from the main spaceport site to an area adjacent to the existing telecommunications infrastructure on Ben Tongue, and the access track from the A838 to the Launch Site Integration Facility (LSIF) will be realigned.

These changes will make the building footprint smaller, leading to a reduction in peat disturbance and a lower impact on the groundwater ecosystem. The visual impact of the site will also be reduced, and there will be less disturbance to local watercourse crossings, with mammal migration paths widened to better preserve the natural environment. The proposed changes should also result in a shorter construction period and fewer vehicle movements.

The public consultation sessions will be held on the below dates in the Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue:

• 5th December 2023, 12 pm – 2pm and 5 pm – 8pm
• 18th January 2023, 12 pm – 2pm and 5 pm – 8pm