Supplementary Environmental Information published
The long awaited Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) to the Environmental Impact Report on the Spaceport 1 development was published on the Comhairle’s planning portal at the start of February, kicking off an additional four week period of public consultation.
The submission included more than 100 new documents, ranging from maps, illustrations and photographs to technical reports and surveys.
The Spaceport 1 development at Scolpaig Farm has had a mixed response from the community, with some welcoming the economic value of the project and others citing environmental and cultural heritage concerns.
The developers have set out the beneficial economic impacts associated with both the construction and operation of the site, saying by year three of operation, Spaceport 1 will be providing 23.26 Full-Time Equivalent jobs and generating turnover of £6.45 million.
Those raising objections included the Friends of Scolpaig Tower group, which has campaigned against the development. The Group says it is “fighting to protect this area of exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity from the inappropriate development of a commercial spaceport.”
The Group’s concerns include the impact on the single track road between Carinish and Scolpaig, which will be subject to clearway restrictions during launch periods and will not be upgraded as part of the development.
The location of the development has also proved controversial, as it is sited on Scolpaig Farm, a well-preserved 19th century agricultural holding, and close to Scolpaig Tower and the Iron Age Dun on which it was built.
As part of the SEI requirements, developers were asked to extend their survey work to include a structural assessment of the Tower.
Consultants Harley Haddow were commissioned to undertake the structural survey and the Report they returned makes up part of the SEI submissions.
The Report confirms that a site inspection was carried out in August 22, covering Scolpaig Tower, the Farm and its associated buildings. The surveyors were able to carry out a visual inspection of the outbuildings, ‘externally and internally where possible’, and made their inspection of the Farm itself from the perimeter only. Scolpaig Tower was subject to a ‘visual assessment from loch side only, given the compromised access arrangements, with subsequent photographic/video survey undertaken separately by Fraser Architecture.’
On the question of Scolpaig Tower, the surveyors state that: “Our view is that the tower is highly sensitive, either to wind loads or perhaps even vibration from running traffic or even, say, operatives setting up a scaffolding frame. It may be that the only way to ensure longevity of the tower whilst minimising risk to those operatives charged with the work is to take down the tower, by hand.”
In its response to the consultation last year, the North Uist Community Council summed up community feeling by saying:
“The Community Council recognises that there is divided opinion on the proposal and does not provide judgement in favour of or against the proposal. We do, however, provide the following comments:
“There is strong community desire for creation of sustainable employment to help stem population decline and provide quality employment opportunities. There is, however, some scepticism that the number of projected FTE jobs will materialise and that they will manifest as full-time roles in North Uist or elsewhere in the local area…… The lack of suitable and available housing is a significant problem for businesses trying to recruit staff in the locality. Similar challenges can be envisaged for any job opportunities that are created via the Spaceport…
“The EIA presents arguments of no detrimental environmental impact; there are some community concerns that some detrimental impact could result. There is some concern as to how the safety of activities will be assured, particularly given the experimental nature of some activities…
“There is some concern of the possible impact to fishing activity; although this may only be for a limited number of days a year when there could be contention in short good weather windows…
“We acknowledge there is a sizeable construction phase and would encourage that work is contracted wherever possible to local contractors. It is acknowledged that the lease of Scolpaig Farm for agricultural use is a positive outcome.”
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar acquired the full 687 acres that make up the farm in June 2019. The Farm and the Tower are scheduled monuments.
The Spaceport 1 development is being led by a consortium that includes Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, HIE, QinetiQ, Rhea Group and Commercial Space Technologies Ltd.
Development plans for the Spaceport were first submitted in the summer of 2019 but later withdrawn after more than 600 objections were raised. In November 2021, the developers showcased revised plans for a scaled down project, which generated 223 objections.
As Am Pàipear went to print at the end February, there were only four new responses from members of the public to this new consultation, one neutral and three against.
With the final submissions now returned, the Comhairle’s planning department will review the application proposal and the consultation comments from members of the public and specialist consultees before preparing its report and recommendation for consideration by the Planning Board of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in due course.
