Business park plans unveiled

It is hoped the move will bring new jobs to the area.

Powys Council Council wants to develop Abermule Business Park after buying the 1.7 hectare site from the Welsh Government last year.

Many years ago the basic infrastruction was put in on the land as part of the Severn Valley Regeneration Programme, funded by European Regional Development Funding and the Welsh Government.

Now the council has launched a pre-planning consultation period has now opened proposing to develop the business park and construct six business units as well as a recycling bulking facility.

The council intends to develop the park in a number of phases and intends to provide six business units for local businesses to establish and expand. If granted planning permission, it is hoped construction of the first business unit will start in spring 2019 with the remaining business units being constructed as tenants come forward.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Highways, Recycling and Assets, said: “As part of our vision for Powys, we want to be an open and enterprising council that helps develops a vibrant economy. We decided to develop this well-located site to provide a greater supply of business units as we were aware that there is a lack of suitable accommodation for businesses to expand to within the county.

“We hope that this much needed addition will provide the support for businesses to grow. We further hope that the business park will help attract additional investment, resulting in better quality employment opportunities for local people.”

Part of the business park will be developed for a recycling bulking facility for the materials collected from households. Recyclables will be bulked up at the site before being transported to re-processors.

“It is essential that we have the infrastructure in place to maximise the efficiency of the collection vehicles and ensure the quality of the material we collect as we continue to increase our recycling rates in line with the Welsh Government’s aspirations and targets,” Cllr Davies said.

“We own and operate sites in Brecon and Rhayader but we need a site to serve the north of the county. Abermule Business Park is ideally located between the two main population centres of north Powys.”

The pre-planning consultation will close on Wednesday, May 30 and the pre-planning consultation document will be available to view at Abermule Community Centre during their opening hours for the duration of the consultation.

To view the pre-planning documents online visit www.asbriplanning.co.uk/statutory-pre-application-consultation/ which also gives details on how you can make representations on the proposed plans.