Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced that it is in talks with four potential investors to develop the UK’s first commercial space-port.

The LEP is leading the attempt to set up Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station.

The Government is inviting joint bids from potential launch sites and space-vehicle system operators, with the aim of establishing the UK’s first commercial space-port by 2020, so that commercial companies can launch small satellites into orbit and offer space-plane flights for science and tourism purposes.

Cornwall’s bid, which was submitted on 30 April, seeks up to £10 million in funding to upgrade the facilities at Newquay. This would include a Spaceplane Systems Integration Facility, comprising a hangar and clean rooms to cater for satellite and future-flight technologies.

Sandra Rothwell, chief executive of the LEP, said: “Our aim is to create a high-value space cluster around our Aerohub Enterprise Zone sites at Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station.

“With the right support — and working with industry and other LEPs — we are offering an operational space-port to the UK Space Agency in the next three years, delivering a key part of the Government’s national space policy and Industrial Strategy ambitions.

The bid is being co-ordinated by Aerohub Enterprise Zone manager Miles Carden at Newquay. He said: “The combination of Newquay and Goonhilly is very attractive to space-vehicle operators, which is why there is international interest in being part of our Spaceport Cornwall bid.

“We are building on our existing assets to offer a complete and competitive launch solution for the commercial space industry, providing low-cost access to space in an industry that is expected to be worth £25 billion by 2020.”