Experts Clear Radiation at Former RAF Montrose for £500M Project

Experts have confirmed the site of the former RAF Montrose is free of hazardous radiation, paving the way for the ambitious £500 million Zero Four project aimed at establishing a business park in the area. The site, which originally served as Britain’s first operational military air base starting in 1913, has been the focus of redevelopment efforts since its closure in 1952.

In 2020, plans for the Zero Four project were unveiled, with the potential to create up to 2,000 jobs in the Angus region. The name of the business park is derived from the historical 04/22 runway call sign of the aerodrome. Development efforts are being led by Crown Estate Scotland, which has recently submitted documentation to Angus Council detailing the results of a comprehensive survey for potentially hazardous materials from wartime activities.

Following World War Two, many aircraft were dismantled at military sites, leading to concerns about the disposal of parts containing radium. In 2012, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) compiled a list of potentially radioactive sites, which notably did not include Montrose. Recent gamma radiation sweeps of the area confirmed that the ground is clear, with low-level readings attributed primarily to natural radioactivity in stone chippings.

The Montrose Air Station Museum played a critical role in identifying areas of interest during the survey process. In 2022, museum officials were also involved in a project to excavate improvised explosive devices that were laid during the Second World War.

Angus Council has expressed strong support for the Zero Four project. In response to queries about the site, the council highlighted that the initiative has the potential to bring “substantial and lasting benefits to the Angus economy.” The authority’s economic development department noted, “This proposal, alongside other planned developments in Montrose—including the Skills Academy and redevelopment of the waterfront—supports the ambition to establish a cluster of innovative green and blue economy businesses in the north-east.”

The council further emphasized that existing employment areas in Montrose are nearing full capacity, which restricts opportunities for both inward investment and local business expansion. With occupancy levels in Angus Council’s commercial property portfolio remaining above 93% for an extended period, the proposed development aims to meet increasing demand by providing space suitable for multinational investors and supply chain companies.

In tandem with the Zero Four project, Angus Council has advanced plans for a drone port as part of the overarching Mercury Programme for the site. Shore-to-ship flight trials conducted in 2021 marked a significant step in this initiative, although a fully operational drone port in Montrose may still be ten years away.

As the Zero Four project progresses, stakeholders remain optimistic about the potential economic revitalization and job creation it promises for the region.