[2][1] The facility was originally planned to be shared by both Orbex and Lockheed Martin, and to potentially use two separate launch pads, as the two rockets use different propellants.

For all three locations the particular value is in having a clear northern coast which allows rockets to launch due north without problems from land areas under the flight path.

The surrounding land is common grazing for the crofters, who will be required (with due compensation) to clear livestock from a wider exclusion zone on launch days.

[14] Although the spaceport applications and permissions were completed by HIE, a development agency,[14] a commercial operator was always intended,[15] and in 2022 the site was subleased to Orbex who had originally been involved as one of the rocket suppliers.

They are aiming for re-usability for the booster stage, and full mass recovery so that no rocket materials are left on land or sea or in space.

This is to have low visual impact from the road, with a planted Green roof housing facilities to control the launch and panoramic glass windows facing towards the launchpad.

Around 0.5 km north of the LSIF, linked by an access rail, will be the launchpad, incorporating facilities for storage and management of the bio-propane and liquid oxygen.

[20][23] The expectation was that two launch pads would be required, to cope with the different fuel types, namely bio-propane for Orbex, and RP-1 for Lockheed Martin's as yet undisclosed vehicle.

[29] A legal attempt to overturn the planning permission was made by Anders Holch Povlsen's company 'Wildland', which was rejected by the court in 2022.

[30] With the legalities resolved HIE was able to sub-lease, for 50 years, the spaceport site for the construction and operational phases of the project to Orbex, the company that is also developing the rockets and engines that will be launched there.

[6] A £30 million funding round was followed by the appointment of Jacobs Solutions as main contractors and on 4 May 2023 Orbex announced a 'ground-breaking' milestone, marking the start of the construction phase.