High-Potential Development Sites Unveiled
The wraps have come off two new high-potential strategic business and employment sites in Carmarthenshire.
Welsh Government Leader of the House Jane Hutt AM was amongst the first to see phase one of the Cross Hands East strategic employment site – 22 acres of prime development space set out over nine plots with potential for major employment.
The development site is being marketed to the private sector, particularly those in the field of advanced manufacturing, financial/professional, creative agri-technology and environmental services, with opportunities to build high quality commercial premises right next to the A48/M4 road network.
The £14.5million strategic employment site was funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund. The council is contributing a further £1million to encourage development at the Cross Hands East site in the form of property development grants.
Jane Hutt met with Carmarthenshire County Council’s economic development and marketing teams, and representatives from contractors Alun Griffiths Ltd on site yesterday morning (Thursday, October 6).
“Cross Hands East is a major infrastructure project that will bring business growth and job creation to Carmarthenshire, so I’m delighted that Welsh Government and EU funds have supported this development,” she said.
“EU funds, in particular, have been a vital source of investment and this project is a clear example of how EU funding is supporting economic development in Wales.
“This site can accommodate 1,000 jobs – this is great news for this area, for the communities that live here, businesses and the economy. The Welsh Government is pleased to be a partner.”
Also being unveiled today was prime development land in Dafen, Llanelli.
Businesses specialising in life sciences, professional and commercial services, and special projects, were amongst the first to discover opportunities to develop new business premises situated alongside The Beacon.
An audience of potential property developers and industry influencers gathered at The Beacon to learn about both development sites and speak with officers about their long-term business options in Carmarthenshire.
Cllr Meryl Gravell, the council’s Executive Board Member for Regeneration, said: “We were delighted to take the wraps off these two high-potential development sites in Carmarthenshire, both of which are ideally situated close to the main transport links in the county and the Swansea Bay City Region.
“Carmarthenshire has an enviable track record in business and property development, and today was an opportunity to reinforce this as a place to invest and develop.
“We’ve had lots of positive discussions today and our team will work hard with developers and industry professionals to bring forward any plans to develop on these two sites.”
Speaking at the Cross Hands launch, council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said Carmarthenshire is ‘open for business’.
“When I became Leader of this authority it was my ambition to create good quality jobs,” he said. “This growth zone, strategically located within Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Bay City Region, offers businesses great opportunity to expand and develop. This site alone has major employment potential.
“It shows what can be achieved by working together – phase one has been a real partnership effort, and phase two is on the horizon.”
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