Two business parks in the Neath valley are set to share £13.5m of UK Government funding for new industrial units — and the council says demand is already there to fill them.
The money will support proposed developments at Nant y Cafn Business Park in Seven Sisters and Vale of Neath Business Park in Resolven, both subject to site purchases later this summer and planning approval.
Plans earmark a 45,000 sq ft development at Nant y Cafn and a 30,000 sq ft scheme at the Resolven site, aimed at small and medium-sized firms.
The funding was first announced last week as part of a wider UK programme targeting former coalfield communities.
Now the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council has welcomed the news, pointing to a recently completed phase at Nant y Cafn that has filled up fast.
Six industrial units there, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, were completed earlier this year and are already fully occupied.
Councillor Steve Hunt said the investment was “very positive news” for the borough and its valley communities.
“Investment like this helps create new jobs, supports local businesses, and brings fresh opportunities into the area,” he said.
He said the strong take-up at Nant y Cafn showed the demand for high-quality industrial space in the area.
“This latest announcement will build on that success and bring further investment into our communities,” he added.
The council leader said such developments gave businesses room to grow and helped people find work closer to home.
The new units are intended to support both start-ups and expanding companies looking for space in the area.
The funding forms part of the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund, with further support from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
The trust works to help former coalfield areas attract investment and create jobs, decades on from the collapse of the industry that built communities like Seven Sisters and Resolven.
Both new developments still depend on the council completing the site purchases and securing planning permission, expected to be worked through over the coming months.
