The Welsh Government has stepped in to call in the planning application for the proposed US military DARC radar array at Cawdor Barracks, preventing Pembrokeshire County Council from taking a final decision at its planning committee this month.
What the minister said
The intervention was made by Siân Gwenllian MS, the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning. Her letter to the council lists multiple reasons for calling the proposal in, signalling that the matter raises issues beyond the scope of a routine local planning determination.
- National security – the minister describes the development as having strategic defence implications and being a novel planning issue.
- Policy conflicts – potential tensions with national policy on landscape, ecology, sustainability and placemaking are cited.
- Public interest and controversy – the proposal is described as likely to attract debate outside the immediate locality.
“The proposed development raises national security issues given the strategic defence nature of the proposal and is a novel planning issue.”
Campaigners welcome the move
PARC Against DARC, the campaign that has been organising opposition to the radar, welcomed the minister's decision. The group has argued the 27‑dish array would sit overlooking the St Davids Peninsula and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, causing unacceptable visual harm and damage to tourism. They noted both the National Park Authority and Natural Resources Wales have objected to the scheme.
PARC described the minister's intervention as a "seismic and significant step" for the new Plaid Cymru‑led Welsh Government. The campaign had lobbied ministers directly to request the application be called in, and highlighted what it said were several key reasons why the Welsh Government should assume responsibility for the decision.
Immediate consequences and what happens next
With the application called in, the planning committee at Pembrokeshire County Council will not determine the matter. Instead, the decision-making process moves to the Welsh Government, which will undertake its own assessment and determine whether to grant planning consent.
The minister’s letter explicitly sets out the factors that have led to the call in; these go beyond localised planning considerations and include matters of national significance.
| Factor cited by minister | Reason |
|---|---|
| National security | Strategic defence nature; novel planning issue |
| Policy conflicts | Potential conflict with landscape, ecology, sustainability and placemaking policy |
| Public interest | Controversy beyond the locality and significant public interest |
Locally, the proposal has prompted strong responses from statutory bodies and community groups. The National Park Authority has objected on grounds of adverse visual impact and potential harm to a nationally important landscape. Natural Resources Wales has also expressed agreement with that assessment. Campaigners contend the scheme would harm tourism in an area that depends heavily on its natural environment and scenic character.
For Pembrokeshire residents, the ministerial intervention means the debate will continue at a higher level and the timetable for any final determination will be extended. It also places the application in the spotlight of national politics and planning policy, rather than leaving the matter solely to the county council.
Officials at Pembrokeshire County Council have been informed of the call‑in. The next steps will involve the Welsh Government considering the planning merits and the broader implications identified in the minister’s letter before reaching a decision.
