Moray’s spaceport is set for lift off after Moray Council backed the development as an economic priority.
RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss barracks were among eight sites in the UK named recently as possible locations.
The enterprise would mean that Moray could cash in on the £400 billion global space market.
Yesterday, Councillor Graham Leadbitter put forward a motion calling for councillors to agree the scheme should be an “important economic development priority” for Moray Council and to task officers to progress work.
The economic development and infrastructure committee agreed to support the motion, pledging their full support to the UK Government’s preliminary consultation on the proposals. The Moray Economic Partnership will take the lead in responding in support of the two local bases.
After the meeting, Mr Leadbitter said: “The development of a spaceport in Moray would give a massive boost to our local economy with inward investment by technology companies, increased work for service and support companies and a great means to attract and retain high value jobs to our region.
“The council has stated that a spaceport in Moray is an important economic priority, which supports our wider economic strategy.
“In the past, support from council administrations in Moray has been sketchy to say the least, with some describing the idea as ‘pie in the sky’ but I am pleased they have now got behind this SNP motion to do all that we can to make Moray the choice for a spaceport and put us at the forefront of the development of new space technology.”
The spaceport was also welcomed by Labour, with Elgin South Councillor John Divers telling the committee the party “wholeheartedly endorse it.”
Committee chairman John Cowe, who also chairs the economic partnership, said: “The advent of a spaceport would be a fantastic business opportunity for Moray-Speyside as a region and it is therefore appropriate that the Moray Economic Partnership, working with both the public and private sectors, prepares the response.
“Everyone in Moray will be working tremendously hard to persuade the government to locate the spaceport here if possible.”
The proposed response will be considered by the economic partnership on September 2 and at the next meeting of the economic development and infrastructure committee before being submitted to the government on October 6.