Space Hub Sutherland: Works to start on Melness site despite chief executive departure
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Work set to pave the way for a spaceport in Sutherland will get under way next week despite the shock departure of the developer's chief executive.
Chris Larmour, the founding CEO of Orbex – whose Prime rockets are due to take small satellites into space from next year – is leaving in a management shake-up, it emerged earlier this week.
But the spaceflight firm, which is also handling the development of Space Hub Sutherland as its main launch facility, said preliminary work on the site would start imminently.
Meanwhile, Highlands and Islands Enterprise – which has been heavily involved in the process to develop the site – moved to reassure people that the promised jobs and economic spin-off from the space sector development would not be affected by the changes to the management of Orbex.
The company said the initial phase of work would see the entrance to the spaceport improved and extended.
Jacobs, the contractor appointed by Orbex to manage construction of the site, has appointed Lybster-based John Gunn and Sons Ltd as its local construction partner.
Its team are expected to be on site on Monday and Tuesday next week with the works formally starting on Wednesday.
Safety signs and traffic lights will be set up on the A838 close to the entrance to the site at A' Mhoine, west of Tongue.
The works on the entrance are expected to be completed before the end of May.
Orbex added that improvements to passing places, required as part of the planning consent from Highland Council, would be completed in a future phase of works.
The company did not provide details of when work would start on the launch site or other infrastructure.
Orbex said earlier this week it was "transitioning the company management team to prepare for the next stage of growth" and that Mr Larmour was stepping back to "allow a focus on new goals".
Bart Markus, chairman of the board of directors, said: "We’re preparing for the next stage of the company's growth and the focus is shifting to broader strategic goals over the next decade.
"We're already committed to and preparing for the first launches, and it's time now to look beyond those immediate objectives and prepare for the next set of milestones.
"Chris has been a key part of all our successes to date, and leaves the company in a strong position."
A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: “Orbex is a highly innovative and ambitious company at the forefront of driving growth in Scotland’s space sector.
“HIE has been working closely with Orbex for several years, both to support manufacturing in Forres and take forward exciting plans to launch satellites from Melness in Sutherland. These plans remain on course and are not affected by management changes in the company.
“We very much look forward to maintaining and strengthening our relationship with Orbex, which has the potential to generate many more skilled jobs and wider economic benefits in the Highlands and Islands.”
Orbex has been granted a 50-year lease to construct and operate Space Hub Sutherland and plans to launch up to 12 rockets into orbit each year, which it says will boost the local economy and create new jobs. It has been supported by the Melness Crofters Estate, which leased land at A' Mhoine, near Tongue, for the development.
Orbex is also currently recruiting for an environmental clerk of works, which it states is the second job directly associated with the spaceport. The role will involve monitoring the contractor’s compliance with the ecological, ornithological and hydrological commitments provided in the environmental impact study, approved as part of the planning permission.
