Southwest Wales Celtic Freeport Reveals Five-Year Plan for Economic Growth and Job Creation

The southwest Wales-based Celtic Freeport has published a five-year plan highlighting how it intends to bring in jobs and investment to the area as well as establishing it as a leading hub for energy, manufacturing, and engineering.
Opened in November 2024 the Celtic Freeport was designed to attract investment in growing green sectors such as low-carbon fuels, floating offshore wind, clean energy manufacturing, and advanced engineering.
The project was part of a joint bid between Associated British Ports, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire County Council, and the Port of Milford Haven.
Freeports are described as special areas within the UK’s borders where different economic regulations apply such as tax incentives for eligible businesses within them.
They also offer simplified customs procedures and streamlined planning processes to boost redevelopment in the areas close to them with other UK freeports including the Thames, Teesside, and Liverpool City Freeports.
Over a 25-year period the Celtic Freeport is projected to deliver more than £8bn in investment and 11,500 jobs with the site also expected play a role in the rollout of an offshore floating windfarm in the Celtic Sea.
A section of the plan published in June 2026 says the company has now identified clear priorities heading in to the next five years with a focus on four key areas.
These are driving capital investment into “key freeport industries
and developments” delivering a £25m seed capital programme by end of
2028-29, supporting and facilitating landowners to progress key development projects, exploring local supply chain innovation and de-carbonisation pathways, and looking at laying the foundations for a “thriving skills market” with sustainable local employment.
Cathy Hall, interim CEO of the Celtic Freeport, said: “This five-year plan sets out how the Celtic Freeport will support businesses across the region to de-carbonise, grow, and access new opportunities.
“We will be focusing on delivering projects to consolidate the region’s strong industrial future.”
The plan comes just months after Neath Port Talbot Council entered a memorandum of understanding with the UK and Welsh Governments, Pembrokeshire County Council, and Celtic Freeport Company Limited.
The move formalises the authority as the accountable body for the freeport moving forward as it enters its “delivery phase”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​