The Council’s intention is to construct 14 new business units in 3 locations within our valleys areas at Nant y Cafn, Glyncorrwg, and Cwmgors.
Currently, there is a severe shortage of smaller, start-up style industrial units throughout the county borough, and this activity specifically addresses both local need and UKSPF intervention ‘Investing in enterprise infrastructure and employment/innovation site development projects. This can help to unlock site development projects which will support growth in places’.
The Council itself owns and manages its own stock of industrial units ranging in size from those suitable for small ‘start up’ companies to large commercial units occupied by key local businesses ranging from 463 to 3,950 sq ft, over 11 different business parks and industrial estates.
The current council portfolio is at almost 100% occupation, and there is a waiting list for every industrial estate. In order to meet this demand therefore, we will construct 4 new units of approximately 1,000 sq.ft each on the existing industrial estates at Glyncorrwg and Cwmgors, and 6 new units on the industrial estate at Nant y Cafn, which has existing infrastructure, but which has not been developed out to date. The units will be of block and profile steel construction with a small internal office/kitchen space plus a w.c. They will each have a roller-shutter door as the main point of entry and an ancillary door at the rear which will double as an emergency exit.
The units will be built using a contractor procured from the South West Wales Regional Construction Framework.
The key success factors for the operation are:
• Effective building design, meeting the requirements of the project specification
• Construction of a high quality business units.
• Ensuring value for money throughout.
• Timely delivery of project.
• Delivery of a quality project.
• Zero H&S incidents.
The construction of these 14 units in these three valleys’ communities will create diversification of the economy and increase jobs and growth, by creating accommodation opportunities, therefore helping new start-ups and existing indigenous businesses alike. Resulting increased economic activity will also improve the region’s GVA. The project will also contribute to making Neath Port Talbot a more attractive place in which to invest and do business.
The developments will be managed by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council regeneration team, assisted by in house legal and procurement teams.
Preparatory Design and Project Management will be undertaken by the Council who have in-house knowledge of these areas and have an excellent track record of delivering successful capital regeneration and infrastructure schemes of this nature.
Outputs by March 2025:
• 0.65 acres of land developed (2630 sq m)
• Premises Created – 14 units totalling 14,000 sq ft (1300 sq m)
• 56 Jobs Accommodated
• 14 SME’s Accommodated
• GVA increased by £1,120,000