A BURNHAM company is set to leave the area to move to Scotland.

Kite Power Solutions (KPS) has had its bid approved to carry out research and development in Stranraer.

The company, founded in Burnham in 2011, aims to move to the site, in a West Freugh military range, in the near future.

They aim to develop a low cost solution to harness energy from the wind using kites.

The move could lead to KPS employing 500 people in Scotland by 2025.

The new site will give them a permanent test site, something their current site in Bradwell-on-Sea couldn’t offer.

KPS’ Business Development Director, David Ainsworth, said: “The reason we are based in Burnham is that one of our founder directors, John Hardy, owns Hardy Engineering there and was able to offer us low cost accommodation.

“We agreed with a local farmer that we could do some development testing of kites on his land at Bradwell-on-Sea.

“The test site at Bradwell-on-Sea is not and never was a permanent flying test site, we have to take the equipment home every night and we will never be allowed to operate 24/7.

“We have secured and consented a test site where we can operate 24/7. This is one of a handful we identified and just happened to be in Scotland.

“There is no political or Brexit reason associated with this, we started looking for test sites two years ago and the site at West Freugh in Scotland just happened to be the best fit for our requirements.”

The engineers currently based in Burnham will be relocated to Scotland, but KPS are certain they will continue their close association with the area.

David said: “The engineers stationed in Burnham will relocate to Scotland and we will continue our close association with Burnham by continuing to use Hardy Engineering as a manufacturing subcontractor.”