Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Highlands & Islands Enterprise is an arm of the Scottish Government. The organisation has taken the lead on the creation of a Scottish Spaceport with its preferred location being the Sutherland Spaceport.

The Sutherland Spaceport project has brought HIE into the spotlight as the proposed launch site came up against significant opposition with over 400 objections to its planning application. Many of the objectors suggested that HIE didn’t take into account the serious environmental impact of the development, particularly on peatland as well as impact on local wildlife.

HIE also came under scrutiny for awarding a “loan” to Orbex Space while refusing to share details of the “loan” when they were presented with a “Freedom of Information request”.