7 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, UK, EH3 6QG Volume I – Non-Technical Summary ITPEnergised | Shetland Space Centre | 2021-01-04 i Volume I – Non-Technical Summary 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Approach to EIA 2 1.3 Proposed Development 3 1.4 Site Selection, Design Iteration and Alternatives 7 1.5 Landscape, Seascape and Visual Impact Assessment 9 1.6 Ornithology 10 1.7 Ecology 10 1.8 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology 11 1.9 Traffic and Transport 12 1.10 Noise 12 1.11 Air Quality 13 1.12 Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology 14 1.13 Marine and Transboundary Effects 15 1.14 Socio-economic Effects 16 1.15 Climate Change 17 1.16 Major Accidents and Disasters 18 1.17 Defence, Telecommunications and Aviation 19 ITPEnergised | Shetland Space Centre | 2021-01-04 ii 1. Non-Technical Summary 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 ITPEnergised has prepared this Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) on behalf of Shetland Space Centre Limited (‘the Applicant’) in regard to three separate but related planning applications made to Shetland Islands Council for a vertical launch space port and associated infrastructure, to be known as the Shetland Space Centre (and for the purposes of this EIA Report referred to as ‘the Proposed Development’) situated at Lamba Ness on Unst, Shetland. 1.1.2 Growth in demand for meteorological, telecommunications, earth observation and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) satellite services has led to rapid growth and diversification within the space industry and a marked shift from state to private provision. In the UK in 2018 the industry was worth more than £16 bn (annual growth exceeds three per cent) and comprised around 1,000 companies and organisations (UK Government, 2018). Glasgow produces more satellites than any other European city. However, currently, the “missing link” for the UK is launch capability. 1.1.3 As set out in the National Space Policy (UK Government, 2015), the UK aims to become the European hub for commercial spaceflight and related sector technologies. The UK Government is committed to supporting the growth of a robust and competitive commercial space sector and establishing a spaceport in the UK to facilitate small satellite launch activities and/or sub-orbital spaceflight operations and to grow the value of the UK Space Sector to £40 billion by 2030, representing approximately 10 % of the global market. 1.1.4 An independent assessment (DEIMOS et al, 2017) of potential areas for the vertical launch of small satellites as part of the SCEPTRE project on behalf of the UK Space Agency (UKSA), identifies Saxa Vord as being the optimal location in the UK for launching small satellites into space from a technical perspective. Favourable characteristics include the high latitude and the geographic location, giving the Proposed Development the best orbital access conditions in the UK which enables launch trajectories to remain entirely clear of inhabited areas. LaunchUK and Pathfinder Test Launch 1.1.5 Through its LaunchUK initiative to help grow the UK’s spaceflight capabilities, the UK government is funding a range of industry-led projects including £31.5 million to establish launch services. The UK Space Agency has selected Lockheed Martin to help implement its vision for the UK Spaceflight Programme and, with a grant from the UK Space Agency, Lockheed Martin is leading a team to execute several strategic projects with a goal of providing the first vertical space launch in the early 2020s, the Pathfinder Launch. The strategic projects include the UK's first spaceport and the team will support the development of the nation's first commercial spaceport (the Proposed Development) at Lamba Ness on Unst. Regulation of Spaceflight 1.1.6 The UK government is committed to enabling safe and sustainable commercial growth in the spaceflight sector through efficient and effective regulation. The Applicant will therefore need to apply for and obtain a licence from the regulator, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). 1.1.7 A legal framework has been established under the Space Industry Act 2018 – this will provide an appropriate regulatory framework that supports safe, secure and sustainable launch-related operations from the UK. In July 2020, the UK government launched a spaceflight consultation on the regulations for the UK’s spaceflight programme. 1.1.8 The regulations to support the Space Industry Act 2018 will enable a range of commercial spaceflight and associated activities to take place. ITPEnergised | Shetland Space Centre | 2021-01-04 1 Location Proposed Launch Site 1.1.9 The proposed Launch Site at Lamba Ness is centred on reference point 466500 E, 1215500 N and occupies an area of approximately 80.8 hectares (ha), approximately 2.5 km north-east of the settlement of Norwick. 1.1.10 The closest residential locations are properties in Norwick, located approximately 2 km south-west of the proposed Launch Site. Proposed Launch and Range Control Centre (LRCC) 1.1.11 The proposed LRCC which is centred on reference point 464098 E, 121313 N and occupies an area of approximately 0.39 ha, lies immediately east of the B9087, approximately 2.4 km south-west of the proposed Launch Site. Saxa Vord is the location of a former RAF site and currently comprises holiday houses, a hostel, restaurant, and distillery. The proposed LRCC site is currently occupied by the former Valhalla brewery building, which is to be redeveloped to form the LRCC. 1.1.12 The closest residential receptors to the proposed LRCC are located approximately 30 m to the north- west. Proposed New Section of Access Road at Northdale 1.1.13 The proposed New Section of Access Road centred on reference point 464325 E, 121059 N, is approximately 510 m long. It is located between two existing roads, across ground which rises up from the valley for the Burn of Norwick, from south-west to north-east. The proposed road section is located approximately 1.6 km south-west of the proposed Launch Site and 520 m north of the proposed LRCC. 1.1.14 The closest residential receptors to the proposed New Section of Access Road are located approximately 45 m to the north. Planning Applications and Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) 1.1.15 An “EIA development” is defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (the ‘EIA Regulations’) as either a “Schedule 1 development” or a “Schedule 2 development” likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location. In line with the EIA Regulations, an application for planning permission for EIA development must be accompanied by an EIA Report. 1.1.16 The Proposed Development does not fall within the list of developments set out in Schedule 1 to the EIA Regulations nor within the descriptions of development and applicable thresholds and criteria for the purposes of classifying development as Schedule 2 development. Nevertheless, it is considered ‘likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location’ and, as such, the Applicant has voluntarily chosen to prepare this EIA Report in relation to the planning applications and Proposed Development. 1.2 Approach to EIA 1.2.1 EIA aims to protect the environment by ensuring that the local planning authority (in this case Shetland Islands Council), when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project which is likely to have potentially significant effects on the environment, does so in the full knowledge of the likely significant effects and is able to apply planning and other controls to minimise and mitigate those effects. 1.2.2 EIA is the systematic process of compiling, assessing, presenting and mitigating all of the likely significant environmental effects of a proposed development. The key stages in the EIA process are ITPEnergised | Shetland Space Centre | 2021-01-04 2 presented in Chapter 2 of the EIA Report, with an overview of the specific methodology adopted for each technical study provided within the respective technical chapters (Chapters 5 to 17). 1.2.3 A technical review of the likely significant environmental effects of the Proposed Development concluded that the following topics should be scoped into the EIA: Landscape, Seascape and Visual Impact Assessment; Ecology and Biodiversity; Ornithology; Cultural Heritage and Archaeology; Traffic and Transport; Noise and Vibration; Air Quality; Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology; Marine and Transboundary Considerations; Socio-economic Effects; Defence, Aviation and Telecommunications; Climate Change; and, Major Accidents and Disasters. 1.3 Proposed Development 1.3.1 The Proposed Development comprises the following principal elements which are the subject of three separate but related planning applications: Proposed Launch Site – a launch area at Lamba Ness comprising three launch pads, a satellite tracking station, launch vehicle integration buildings, roadways (largely re- using existing roads), fuel storage and ancillary infrastructure; Proposed Launch and Range Control Centre (LRCC) at Saxa Vord; Proposed New Section of Access Road – a short stretch of new road at Northdale; and, Reuse of the existing Fuel Storage Area at Baltasound Airfield. (An integral part of the proposal, however, does not form part of any one of the submitted planning applications as formal planning permission is not required for this element). 1.3.2 The location of the Proposed Development and wider context is shown on Figure NTS-1 below. ITPEnergised | Shetland Space Centre | 2021-01-04 3 Figure NTS-1 – Location and Context of Proposed Development 1.3.3 The Proposed Development will be operated to launch small satellites into either polar or sun- synchronous, low-earth orbits. The layout at the proposed Launch Site allows for launches by multiple launch service providers (LSPs) using a range of different rocket (launch vehicle - LV) types and is designed to accommodate LVs between 13 m and 30 m in height.