Celtic Freeport Tax Sites - Non Domestic Rate Relief

Purpose of the scheme and background

In May 2022, the Welsh Government agreed with the UK Government to establish a freeport programme in Wales, where businesses would benefit from more generous tax reliefs, including business rates relief. On 23 March 2023, the UK and Welsh governments announced that the Celtic Freeport had been successful in the bidding process to establish a freeport.

Full Freeport rates relief will be available for a period of 5 years to an eligible business operating in a freeport tax site in Wales once the tax site has been designated. Freeports rates relief will be available to all new businesses, and certain existing businesses where they expand, provided that any application for relief is made by 31 March 2034.

Eligibility principles and approach

The Celtic Freeport objectives are to support public and private initiatives that:

facilitate the delivery of Tax Sites and Customs Sites through the delivery of investments supporting a just transition to net zero and/or promote regeneration and high quality additional job creation;
establish the Celtic Freeport as a national hub for trade and investment across the economy;
foster innovation;
support Celtic Freeport in the delivery of its outline and full business case (as set out within the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU) through facilitating skills, net zero, trade and investment and regeneration within the Celtic Freeport Economic Area.

To be eligible for Freeport rates relief, businesses located within the Tax Site must be able to demonstrate how they meet the objectives set out above and must also have obtained confirmation from the Celtic Freeport Company that their application aligns with the objectives of the Celtic Freeport. This would be corroborated by referring to the landowner\developers individual Tax Site Delivery Agreement (TSDA) and accompanying fee structure.

Administration requirements

Prior to submitting an application and completing the form, developers are advised to collate supporting documentation. This includes, but is not limited to:-

Plans showing expansion into new or unused space
Evidence of improvements (e.g. contractor invoices, Building Control sign-off, completion certificates.
Tax Site Delivery Agreement and evidence of fees paid
Confirmation from the Celtic Freeport Company that the application aligns with the objectives of the Celtic Freeport
Description of how the application meets the objectives of paragraph 3.1 of the Pembrokeshire County Council Celtic Freeport business rate relief scheme
Lease agreement or proof of ownership

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Further information can be found on the following:

Freeports: non-domestic rates relief (opens in a new tab)

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