Pembrokeshire Council to Visit Cawdor Barracks for DARC Radar Site Assessment
Planning officers will visit Brawdy to assess the proposed DARC radar site, following 1,100 objections and a Welsh Government call-in.
Pembrokeshire planning officers will conduct a site visit to Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy to assess the proposed Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept facility. The Ministry of Defence application seeks permission to install 27 radar antennas as part of a global sensor network under the AUKUS partnership.
The scheme, which aims to track satellites and space debris, was initially recommended for approval by planning committee members in November. However, the application was called in for determination by the Welsh Government, preventing a final decision at that meeting.
More than 1,100 objections were submitted to county planners, including from actor Jerome Flynn, who described it as “the most unspeakably abominable planning application led by the US military, backed by Donald Trump.” Campaign group PARC against DARC has also gathered over 20,000 petition signatures opposing the project.
Despite local opposition, Brawdy Council backed the scheme, stating it would secure the “long-term strategic future of the Brawdy site itself.” A scheme representative warned that rejecting the proposal would pose “significant risks to national security” and called it “a vast opportunity for the economy of Wales.”
Planning committee chair Cllr Mark Carter called for the site visit to allow members to assess the potential visual impact of the development. The scheme is expected to create 90 full-time equivalent construction jobs and 60 operational roles covering operation, maintenance, and security.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
Follow real-time news and explainers on X at @elinathan1122. Reports are verified from official public announcements, emergency authorities, the Met Office, NHS Wales, and established news outlets across Wales.
Corrections and tips: if you spot an error in one of our reports, or have a story you think we should cover, contact the desk at [email protected] or via the contact page.