Talks underway for rocket factory at former Black Bridge armament depot

SPACE-X, the aerospace company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, is in early talks to establish a major UK base at the former Black Bridge site in Milford Haven, The Herald can reveal.

The disused site—once an armament depot and now within the Celtic Freeport zone—is being considered for a rocket manufacturing and research facility, in what could be one of the biggest investments in West Wales in decades.

Speaking to The Herald via a spokesperson, Mr Musk said: “We’re seriously looking at the Black Bridge site in Milford Haven. It has the right mix of industrial infrastructure, port access, and renewable energy potential. It’s a strong contender for our next-generation SpaceX facility in Europe.”

The location, nestled along the Milford Haven Waterway, already benefits from a deep-water harbour, its own pier, underground tunnels suitable for fuel storage, and proximity to both the Dragon LNG jetty and National Grid connection points. It also lies just 20 minutes by car from the new UK Space Command base being developed at Brawdy.

While no official confirmation has been made, The Herald understands that a delegation of engineers and logistics experts from SpaceX visited the site in early March.

A source close to the project said: “This isn’t just a stunt. The site ticks a lot of boxes, and the Freeport status makes it very attractive. The UK government is aware of the interest.”

However, the project may come with strings attached. Mr Musk hinted that broader cooperation with the UK government—particularly regarding the import of Tesla Semi trucks—could influence the pace and scale of any investment.

“If Tesla Semi trucks could enter the UK market without punitive tariffs, that would help align our supply chains and accelerate sustainable logistics deployment,” he said, adding: “We’re open to sharing our technology and innovation as part of that conversation. It’s a win-win.”

Pembrokeshire County Council said the Local Authority would welcome the investment: “If Mr Musk wants to put a rocket factory here, we’ll find room for him. We’ve got the docks, we’ve got the people, and we’ve got the ambition,” an official spokesperson said.

The local community has already begun speculating about the possible transformation of the area, with suggestions that the disused railway line—currently blocked by a Costa Coffee car park—could be reinstated using a dual road-rail system, allowing trains to pass through on a timed basis.

Welsh Government sources have not confirmed any formal approach, but a spokesperson said: “We welcome all interest in investing in Wales’ space and technology sectors and will continue to support high-quality proposals through our partnership with the UK Space Agency.”

If approved, the facility could bring hundreds of high-skilled jobs to Pembrokeshire, revitalising an area historically reliant on energy and port industries. Given the site’s Freeport designation, SpaceX could benefit from generous tax incentives and streamlined planning permissions.

The timing of the news—just a day before April 1—may raise eyebrows. But insiders insist the proposal is genuine, albeit in early stages.

As one source put it: “It sounds like science fiction—but then again, that’s what people said about reusable rockets.”

A CALL to approve a new campsite close to a Neolithic burial chamber for Pembrokeshire coastal path walkers, at which building works have started without permission, has been approved by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Raffale Colella sought partly-retrospective permission for a proposed 12-pitch campsite at Tyr fy Nhad, New Hill, Goodwick.

The application was partly-retrospective as part of a concrete and timber facilities building for the site, near the chambered tomb of Garn Wen, a scheduled ancient monument on land owned by the applicant, has already been built.

A supporting statement through Johnston Planning Ltd said the applicant “seeks to establish a high-quality, all-season facility which will cater primarily for walkers on the Pembrokeshire coastal Path who currently lack any meaningful accommodation of this nature in the locality”.

It added: “The scheme proposes some 12 individual camping pitches set on a north-south axis on the site divided by an access track running the length of the facility with the proposed welfare building set midway along the eastern side of the site.

“In this instance the proposal relates to the establishment of new camp site on the periphery of a recognised settlement.”

It finished: “The provision of temporary visitor accommodation in this location will lead to increased spend in the settlement of Goodwick helping to underpin the service function of that town and having general indirect benefits in terms of social and economic sustainability.

“Ecologically the development proposes significant enhancement measures in terms of planting that will have clear positive impacts in terms of habitat creation and foraging habitat for a range of insect and animal species.”

The scheme was supported by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.

An officer report, recommending approval, said: “In regard to visual impact the site is elevated although due to the nature of the development being low level and in relation to landscape planting the development would have an acceptable visual impact on the immediate and wider area.

“In regard to impact on residential amenity, the site would be approximately 20 metres from the nearest dwelling.  The access track is some 15-20 metres from the dwellings to the east, therefore the development would not have a significant impact on the occupants of the dwellings to the south of the site.”

The application was conditionally approved.

HAVERFORDWEST airport’s new operators are expected to take their lease up in the next few days as part of a drive to make the facility cost-neutral to the council.

Back in 2024, members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet supported the leasing of the council-run Withybush Airport as part of plans to make the facility cost-neutral to the authority.

In 2023, Cabinet members heard the financial position at the council-supported Haverfordwest/Withybush airport deteriorated in 2022/23, with an out-turn position for 2022/23 of £238,000.

That loss was been reduced to an expected £119,000 for 2023/24 “following an extensive review of the operations of the airport”.

Cabinet members, back in 2024, heard there would be a requirement on leases to obtain/keep a CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] Cat II licence and at a market rent, which would “make the airport cost-neutral to the council from the day the lease is signed, whilst also ensuring that an operational airport remains for Pembrokeshire to benefit from”.

“Any lease would have to allow the operator to run the airport on the commercial terms of their choosing to give a chance of long-term sustainability, so, the council will lose full control of how the airport operates.

“However, any lease will require that the airport be maintained to an acceptable standard and that a CAA Cat II licence is maintained. If these terms of the agreement are breached, then the facility will return to the council.”

Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller at the time said: “The airport is a valuable facility and one I’m keen to maintain; I personally recognise that maintaining an ongoing public subsidy is not something we’re particularly keen to do indefinitely.”

He added: “What the lease, we believe, will do is maintain a franchising CAT II airport in Haverfordwest and remove our liability from day one.”

At the March 2025 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, members heard the final paperwork was “on track” to hand the airport over to the new operators by the start of April, with the facility becoming “cost-neutral” to the authority “from the moment it’s handed over to the operator”.

Committee chair Cllr Mark Carter said: “It cost us around £100-200,000 per year; fingers crossed, I’m sure all members are delighted with this.”

Members heard the initial lease would be for a 15-year period, rent-free for the first five years to allow the lease to invest in the site.