Crofters could earn £70,000-a-year to lease land for the UK’s first planned spaceport – and may receive bonuses from rocket launch fees.
The figure was revealed by the campaign group opposed to the development on Melness Crofting Estate (MCE) in Sutherland.
And a spokesman for Protect The Mhoine said the sum suggested the “precious environment” was being sold “very cheaply indeed”.
Land at the Mhoine peninsula has been identified as the proposed location for the launching of rockets carrying micro satellites.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is leading the project and revealed earlier this year a funding package of £17.3 million, including £2.5 million from the UK Space Agency and £9.8 million from HIE.
But the plan for a vertical launch site has split the community of around 140, resulting in the formation of the pressure group whose members have concerns about its impact on the environment, local roads and crofting rights.
PTM is to seek advice over the legitimacy of an estate ballot – which ends on Wednesday – to gauge the level of crofters’ support for the scheme, which could then lead to legal agreements being negotiated.
Chairman John Williams, 66, said: “We have seen sight of a document that suggests HIE will pay MCE £70,000-a-year to rent the land, which will be sub-let to the rocket operators.
“There are around 30 crofters in the area and it raises the question if crofters should have some absolute right over those who are not crofters. They are the majority in the area.
“Half the money will go to the estate board where it can be used for community benefit and the other half to the grazings committee for dividend payments to shareholders.
“They are selling this precious environment very cheaply indeed.”
He described the project as “the worst environmental vandalism”, adding: “We think that drawbacks of building a spaceport on the Mhoine are far more serious and longer lasting than any possible benefits.”
“The benefits are claimed to be 40 jobs in the area and perhaps 400 jobs worldwide but those are tentative numbers.”
A spokesman for HIE said: “We are in discussion with Melness Crofters Estate about an appropriate value for the proposed lease.
“It would be inappropriate for us to discuss the details of those ongoing commercial discussions.
“We have always stressed the project is subject to agreement being reached with the MCE and that this is something on which they will need to consult their members before entering into any formal agreement.”
