The Welsh Government has sold a 30-acre site in Port Talbot to a manufacturer for the development of a new factory. Glass Systems Limited has bought the government-owned post-industrial land, located on Baglan Industrial Estate within the Port Talbot Enterprise Zone for the development of a new glass processing facility.
The glass manufacturing company, which currently operates at a number of sites across south Wales, said the new development will safeguard 500 jobs in the area as well as create 100 more. The site is bound by Baglan Way on its north-eastern and eastern boundaries, Moor Road on its north-western and western boundaries, and the Warburtons Factory on its southern boundary.
The industrial unit would include a mezzanine office measuring 1,355 sqm used for processing glass that is manufactured off-site. A 129-space car park for staff and deliveries is also being proposed, as well as priority access for pedestrians and cyclists.
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As part of the new development, the glass manufacturer will receive Welsh Government business support towards investment in machinery, equipment and expansion of the site. Glass Systems, which has six factories across the UK and employs more than 1,000 staff, manufactures around 100,000 insulated glass units a week to the UK window market. It is owned by European firm Press Glass Group.
Managing director Khaled Elleboudy said: “Growth and development are key to Glass Systems' future and this new factory in Wales will work alongside our factories in England and Scotland and is a significant development for us.
“This high-tech factory will play a key part in helping us continually invest in new sustainable technologies and processes and help us achieve our goal of reducing our CO2 emission, reducing waste, and saving energy.
“The modern facility and open factory space will enable us to plan and utilise our new technology and state-of-the-art equipment plus optimise productivity. Importantly it will also secure many permanent jobs in the area, and we will also be developing the surrounding land to support natural habitats. We have invested a considerable amount of time and resources planning the landscape with an expert team and will be proud to showcase the results to the local community.”
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “I’m delighted to welcome this vote of confidence in Port Talbot by Glass Systems Limited which will safeguard and create hundreds of jobs.
“The Welsh Government is committed to promoting economic opportunity to communities across Wales and Glass Systems Limited have an ambitious plan to contribute to this by building on their success as a leading manufacturer in Wales and the UK.”
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government acquired a huge 900-plus acre land site at Baglan Bay in Neath Port Talbot from regeneration firm St Modwen.
The 911-acre land, which includes part of the freehold interest in the Baglan Energy Park, was bought by the Cardiff Bay administration for £1.75m - in one of the biggest land acquisition deals ever in Wales.
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