Construction for a new £2 million aviation centre at Cornwall Newquay Airport started this month.

The aviation centre will be the start of a “new era” for property development at the airport and provide horizontal launch service operations for Spaceport Cornwall.

The Corserv Group has developed the feasibility and secured funding for the facility and will manage the construction contract with delivery partner Wilmott Dixon.

The aviation centre will be part of Spaceport Cornwall’s Centre for Space Technologies (CST), a £5.8 million development that includes a satellite integration and mission operations facility. The Centre for Space Technologies will enable satellites to be integrated into rockets, ready to launch from Cornwall for 2022.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Government’s Getting Building Fund, the CST will deliver R&D workspace, a laboratory cleanroom, education outreach facility and collaboration space.

Corserv Group MD, Cath Robinson, said: “We are proud to have facilitated this exciting project that brings together a number of partners to deliver a new phase of growth at the airport.

“The new aviation centre will provide opportunities for local and global tenants who require specialist provisions – specifically in the aerospace industry. It also forms part of the Cornwall Airport Newquay’s development plan to create a licensed spaceport and provide horizontal launch service operations from Cornwall.”

Professor Mark Goodwin, vice chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “This is another step forward for Cornwall’s space economy and builds on facilities at Spaceport Cornwall and the world-class assets at Goonhilly Earth Station.

“During the G7 the LEP was able to brief the Prime Minister on the importance of growth sectors including space and data, renewable energy and the digital economy, and how we can work with Government to grow our economy and create well-paid jobs.”