Scotland’s third spaceport is set to be built in the far north of the nation in the Hebrides after Scottish ministers confirmed they would not oppose the plans.

The proposed Spaceport 1 project on Scolpaig Farm in North Uist is expected to host its first launch in late 2024 or early 2025. Other launch sites are in Sutherland and Shetland.

The facility says it will be able to launch up to ten small sub-orbital rockets over the Atlantic each year. During launches, a 155m (250km) exclusion zone will be placed on the seas around St Kilda.

The new spearheaded by the Western Isles Council had been met with opposition from locals with more than 1,000 people signing a petition rejecting the plans. The area is surrounded by environmental protection sites including bird sanctuaries.

A spokesperson for Western Isles Council said: “This is another important step forward in the plan to establish Spaceport 1 – a suborbital, vertical launch facility at Scolpaig, North Uist. Spaceport 1 will provide an opportunity for the economy of the Outer Hebrides to grow and diversify and will provide much-needed local, professional jobs and training opportunities.

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Tags: scotland, Spaceport