Scotland’s first drone port, Mercury Drone Ports, has been given the green light and awarded £1million, to create a first-of-its-kind airspace that will allow Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone activities in Angus.
Receiving approval for its Business Justification Case from the Tay Cities Region Deal Joint Committee, Mercury Drone Ports has been granted an investment of £1m capital funding from the UK Governments £26.5 million Angus Fund, as part of the Tay Cities Regional Deal.
Establishing Angus as a centre of excellence for the development of drone technologies in Scotland, Mercury Drone Ports will establish a safe and easily accessible airspace structure that will enable both drone trials, and commercial drone operations to take place.
Mercury Drone Ports will play a significant role in the shaping of a new industry in the region where manned and unmanned aviation can operate safely alongside each other, supported by ground-based facilities.
Angus Council leader, Councillor Beth Whiteside, said: “Angus’ low-density population, relatively quiet airspace and good transport links makes the region ideally positioned for widespread drone operations to be pioneered.
“We are delighted to be able to lead the way through using innovative technologies to not only enhance connectivity, but also reduce our carbon footprint as we begin to tackle the climate emergency with a green infrastructure first approach.
“By creating an airspace where technology can be tested, operational procedures developed, and early commercial BVLOS operations take place, we hope to attract innovative drone technology companies, operators and commercial businesses that can begin to explore the opportunities that BVLOS flights offer.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said: "Scotland's first drone port will put Montrose at the forefront of the green economy.
"Pioneering drone technology will help connect remote communities to essential health services, maintain renewable energy installations, support Scottish aquaculture, and assist with environmental monitoring.
“The UK Government is investing £26.5 million in ambitious projects in Angus including the Mercury Drone Port, and levelling up communities across Scotland with £2.3 billion."
Mercury Drone Ports’ planned location is within Crown Estate Scotland’s Montrose mixed-use business hub, known as ZeroFour, which is currently in the planning phase.
Crown Estate Scotland and Angus Council are exploring the prospect of including a commercial drone port at ZeroFour as well as co-funding some of the hub’s green energy infrastructure, mirroring Angus Council’s long-term plans to drive sustainable development across Angus and the wider Tay Cities region.