Plymouth and South Devon Freeport

What Plymouth and South Devon Freeport does

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport (PASDF) is a UK private limited economic development company founded in 2022 and headquartered in Plymouth, Devon. It manages one of twelve UK Government-designated Freeports and is unique among them as the UK's only Defence Industrial Strategy Zone. The Freeport operates three tax sites — Langage, Sherford, and Binary Stars — covering more than 88 hectares of investment-ready employment land, and offers eligible businesses 5-year business rates relief and customs duty exemptions available until September 2031 and beyond. Its mandate targets six focus sectors: marine and maritime technology, defence and security, net zero and clean energy, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and space technology.

The Freeport's underlying proposition combines physical infrastructure (employment units, marine testing facilities), fiscal incentives (tax and customs benefits), and ecosystem coordination (cluster development, skills partnerships, demand-based innovation support). Core platform assets include the Smart Sound Plymouth marine autonomy testbed — a PML Applications facility providing authorized water space for testing, validation, and prototyping — and the National Centre for Marine Autonomy (NCMA), designated by the Ministry of Defence, which coordinates marine autonomy capability across the UK. Adjacent assets include the Centre for Coastal Technologies, the Maritime Autonomy Assurance Testbed (MAAT) led by the National Physical Laboratory, and the Langage Green Hydrogen Project (10MW, anchored by Carlton Power). The flagship physical development, Beaumont Way at Langage, completed in 2026 and consists of four Net Carbon Zero employment units (750–2,000+ sqm) expected to support 138 full-time jobs.

PASDF generates revenue through three streams: tax and customs incentive administration (licensing-style benefits), real estate rental income from developed employment units on tax sites (Langage, Sherford, Binary Stars), and deployment of government seed capital (£1.2m Sherford, £4m Langage, plus ongoing drawdowns) that absorbs early-stage risk to make sites commercially viable. Its go-to-market is enterprise-focused: direct business engagement through a Business Growth and Investment Director, partner referrals via local authorities, universities (University of Plymouth), colleges (City College Plymouth), and convening bodies (Maritime UK Southwest, Team Plymouth), supplemented by event-driven demand generation through Ocean Tech Expo and Oceanology International. Customer mix spans enterprise anchors (Babcock, Teledyne Marine, Serco, MSubs, Helsing, Carlton Power), SMEs (Devon Contractors, IntoHeat, Oshen, BMT), non-profits (PML Applications, Maritime UK Southwest), and educational institutions.

Name

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport

Legal name

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport Limited

Website

https://pasdfreeport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport manages a UK Government-designated Freeport and Defence Industrial Strategy Zone, operating 88+ hectares across three tax sites in marine, defence, advanced manufacturing, and net zero sectors. It hosts the National Centre for Marine Autonomy and Smart Sound Plymouth testbed, serving enterprise tenants, SMEs, and academic partners with tax incentives, workspace, and ecosystem coordination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freeport Economic Development and Investment Zone

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

Keywords

• Freeport tax sites
• Marine autonomy testing
• Defence industrial zone
• Employment land leasing
• Innovation ecosystem support

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tax and Customs Incentives: As a UK Freeport designated by the Government, PASD Freeport offers tax and customs benefits to eligible businesses operating within its tax sites. Benefits include business rates relief and customs duty exemptions. These incentives are available until September 2031 and beyond.
2. Real Estate Development: The Freeport, in partnership with Plymouth City Council, develops employment units and commercial space on its tax sites (Langage, Sherford, and Binary Stars) for lease to eligible businesses. Revenue comes from rental income on completed developments.
3. Government Seed Capital: Government-provided seed capital funding is used to unlock sites and stimulate private investment across Freeport tax sites, absorbing early-stage risk and making sites commercially viable for inward investment. This is not revenue but rather public investment to enable economic development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport operates a UK Freeport designation across three tax sites (Langage, Sherford, and Binary Stars) totalling over 88 hectares, providing investment-ready employment land, tax and customs incentives, demand-based innovation support through marine autonomy testing facilities, bespoke growth planning, employer-led skills programmes, and net zero strategic support to businesses in marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and clean energy sectors. The Freeport is the UK's only Defence Industrial Strategy Zone and anchors the National Centre for Marine Autonomy (NCMA).

Product overview

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport is a UK Freeport designated as the UK's Defence Industrial Strategy Zone and home to the National Centre for Marine Autonomy. The Freeport offers a portfolio of interconnected services including land and property across three tax sites (Langage, Sherford, and a defence site), demand-based innovation support through Smart Sound Plymouth test range and NCMA ecosystem, tax and customs incentives (until September 2031), growth planning, skills support with education partners, and Net Zero Routemap strategic support. Key physical products include the Beaumont Way employment units at Langage (Net Carbon Zero workspace), while ecosystem initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Project and Ocean Tech Expo support the target sectors of marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering and net zero technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Centre for Marine Autonomy (NCMA): A designation recognizing the expertise, facilities, research organisations and businesses in the Plymouth area pioneering marine autonomy. The NCMA aims to lead, coordinate and enable the development of the UK's comprehensive capability in marine autonomy.

Products and services

• Land and Property Available Over 88 hectares of investment-ready employment land across three key tax sites (Langage, Sherford, and Binary Stars), including one site with defence innovation capabilities and additional security. Provides businesses in target growth sectors with available plots and employment units for establishment or expansion.
• Tax and Customs Incentives UK Freeport tax and customs benefits for eligible businesses operating within Freeport tax sites, including five years of business rates relief and customs duty exemptions, available until September 2031 and beyond.
• Demand-based Innovation Support Access to a dynamic ecosystem supporting testing, trialling, prototyping, and taking to market advanced technologies across marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and net zero sectors through Smart Sound Plymouth test range and the NCMA.
• Growth Planning Bespoke account management service from initial enquiry through to growth and expansion plans, connecting businesses to the wider Freeport ecosystem, partners, and support services.
• Skills Support Employer-led workforce programmes developed with University of Plymouth, City College Plymouth, and training providers to build talent pipelines for target growth sectors including marine, defence, engineering, and clean energy.
• Net Zero Routemap Strategic business support for net zero adaptation and delivery, including green hydrogen potential assessment (65 tonnes/day by 2030, 250+ tonnes/day by 2050) and clean maritime initiatives for businesses in focus sectors.
• Beaumont Way Employment Units Four purpose-built employment units at Langage Tax Site ranging from 750 sqm to 2,000+ sqm, Net Carbon Zero scheme with solar PV, EV charging, and high insulation standards, designed for growing and innovative businesses in marine, defence, advanced manufacturing, and engineering sectors. Expected to support around 138 full-time jobs once fully occupied.
• Smart Sound Plymouth PML-led marine autonomy and ocean technology testing facility providing authorised water space for testing, trialling, and prototyping marine technologies, with experienced marine operations teams and world-class research vessel capability.
• Centre for Coastal Technologies PML Applications facility providing gateway to the sea services, helping innovative businesses test, validate, and scale marine and coastal technologies through authorised water space access and experienced marine operations teams.
• Ocean Tech Expo South West's largest marine and maritime event organized by Maritime UK Southwest, held at University of Plymouth, bringing together hundreds of industry leaders, innovators, and investors with investor and property-focused breakfast sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 138 full-time jobs expected from Beaumont Way development alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• Teledyne MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Global underwater technology leader establishing new support facility at Oceansgate dedicated to Royal Navy users. Secured Royal Navy contract in March 2026 for autonomous ocean observing systems. Part of NCMA ecosystem.
• PA ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2024Conducted hydrogen demand assessment for Freeports Hub covering 100km radius of Langage site, identifying green hydrogen potential across Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset.
• Carlton PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Developer of Green Hydrogen Project at Langage, one of 11 projects nationally to secure funding through Government's Hydrogen Allocation Round 1. 10MW facility represents anchor investment for region's low-carbon economy.
• Plymouth City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport with strategic oversight of governance, funding, delivery, and economic objectives. Actively involved in direct development programmes delivering high-quality sustainable workspace schemes across the Freeport's tax sites.
• Maritime UK SouthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvening organization within the Freeport ecosystem, bringing together maritime, defence, and marine technology businesses. Organizes Ocean Tech Expo and lobbies for maritime sector recognition and investment.
• University of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner leading development of the National Centre for Marine Autonomy (NCMA) and operating COAST Lab testing facility. Key partner in Smart Sound Plymouth ecosystem.
• City College PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic skills partner providing apprenticeships, further education, and technical training aligned to marine, defence, engineering, and clean energy sectors. Named DTech hub with £10 million in defence funding.
• Plymouth Marine Laboratory / PML ApplicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating Smart Sound Plymouth marine autonomy testbed and Centre for Coastal Technologies. Commercial arm provides authorized water space and marine operations expertise for technology testing and validation.
• Team PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of government, industry, and local leaders developing defence-driven growth programme. Capitalizes on Plymouth's designation as National Centre for Marine Autonomy and one of five Defence Growth Deal locations.
• Devon County CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner supporting Freeport activities and regional economic development initiatives.
• South Hams District CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner, particularly involved in Sherford development. Acquired 18.8-acre site at Sherford from Sherford Consortium as part of Freeport-enabled deal.
• Ministry of DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department that designated Plymouth as UK's National Centre for Marine Autonomy (NCMA) and designated PASD Freeport as Defence Industrial Strategy Zone. Committing £4.4 billion toward naval infrastructure.
• Serco Group plccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefence contractor supporting Royal Navy through vessel operation, management, and maintenance. Acts as integrator for autonomous maritime systems, providing operational frameworks for SME technology trials.
• MSubssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Teledyne Marine for UK supply chain development. Gold sponsor of Ocean Tech Expo 2026.
• BMTsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Teledyne Marine for UK supply chain development in marine and defence sectors.
• Devon Chamber of CommercesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alignment with Freeport mission around innovation, inward investment, international trade, and high-value job creation. Joint focus on collaboration and purposeful growth.
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading the Maritime Autonomy Assurance Testbed (MAAT) consortium, developing assurance frameworks for autonomous maritime systems. Plymouth selected as regional centre for MAAT programme.
• Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in offshore wind sector development, with Simon Cheeseman serving as Celtic Sea Floating Wind Programme Manager. Supports floating wind innovation and South West supply chain development.
• Babcock International GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecuring site for new Integrated Logistics Hub and Advanced Manufacturing Facility at Sherford. Major defence contractor with long-term commitment to regional skills and opportunity development.
• HelsingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCutting-edge AI defence company establishing Resilience Factory in Plymouth as part of Team Plymouth defence-driven growth programme.
• OshensecondaryTechnology or IntegrationMarine data and autonomy company using C-Star platform for wide-area persistent monitoring. Based in Plymouth, creating high-value skilled jobs and collaborating on marine autonomy legislation.
• Freeports HubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to map hydrogen potential across Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset, with PA Consulting conducting regional demand assessment.
• Devon ContractorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor that delivered Beaumont Way development, embedding social value through internships, apprenticeships, and construction careers events during the 12-month build.
• Skills Launchpad PlymouthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills partner providing employability support for people leaving military service, integrated into construction and development projects.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Port of Plymouth (ABP): ABP-operated port facility in Plymouth. Comparable as a regional port operator in the same city, providing overlapping maritime infrastructure and tenant relationships but without Freeport-specific tax incentives.
• Maritime UK: UK maritime industry trade body. Comparable as a broader maritime sector ecosystem coordinator, overlapping with the Freeport's convening role but operating as an industry advocacy organisation rather than an economic development zone operator.
• Associated British Ports (ABP): UK's largest port operator managing 21 ports. Comparable as a broader port sector incumbent with overlapping port operations and tenant relationships, but operating at national scale across multiple ports rather than Freeport-specific incentives.

Direct peers

• Forth Green Freeport: Scotland-based UK Freeport focused on renewable energy and offshore wind supply chain. Comparable as a peer UK Freeport with similar incentive structure and renewable energy focus but operating in a separate geography.
• Teesside Freeport: UK Freeport focused on offshore wind, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing in the Tees Valley. Comparable as a direct UK Freeport peer with the same government designation framework but targeting different industrial clusters.
• Solent Freeport: UK Freeport focused on maritime, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Comparable as a peer UK Freeport operating in the same statutory framework with overlapping target sectors.
• Humber Freeport: One of the UK's twelve designated Freeports focused on offshore wind, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. Directly comparable as a peer UK Freeport operating with the same statutory tax/customs incentive framework, but serving a different regional economy.
• Celtic Freeport: Welsh UK Freeport focused on offshore wind, hydrogen, and low-carbon industries. Comparable as a peer UK Freeport with similar marine and clean energy emphasis, anchored in Milford Haven.

Emerging players

• Ocean Futures: Emerging marine technology and ocean economy cluster initiatives in the UK. Comparable as a developing marine autonomy and blue economy ecosystem player with thematic overlap to PASD Freeport's marine innovation focus.

Regional players

• Devonport Royal Dockyard (Babcock): Europe's largest naval base located in Plymouth, operated by Babcock. Comparable as a regionally co-located defence and marine infrastructure provider adjacent to the Freeport's tax sites, sharing the same defence supply chain ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PASDFreeport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pasdfreeport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plymouth and South Devon Freeport