Plans to be submitted for 2 million sq ft Welsh development

Global precision engineering company Renishaw plc is set to submit a planning application for two million sq ft of development in South Wales.

17 October 2012

Global precision engineering company Renishaw plc is set to submit a planning application for two million sq ft of development in South Wales. If successful the proposal has the potential to create hundreds of jobs, generated by Renishaw's own expansion and the new businesses that would be attracted to the 77 hectare site which was formerly owned by Robert Bosch Limited.

The site in Miskin, near Cardiff, was allocated as a strategic employment site by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in 2012. Renishaw intends to occupy 19 hectares of the site and 58 hectares will be put out for sale to fund the further expansion of activities on Renishaw's retained land.

The plan outlines proposals which include a 1 million sq ft warehouse and a new business park. The space could include manufacturing, research and development, office and distribution and will target engineering and logistics firms and their supply chains.

Renishaw completed the purchase of the 461,000 sq ft facility and surrounding land in September 2011 and has recently refurbished 68,500 sq ft of space in which it commenced manufacturing in May 2012. The company has future plans to build an additional 400,000 sq ft of manufacturing, research and development facilities for its further expansion.

Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw's Chairman and Chief Executive, said, “This site has huge potential. We have already made a major commitment to South Wales and this proposed development could create many hundreds of jobs for local people, both in construction and the resulting new business ventures.”

The initial proposals have been shaped through discussions with key stakeholders including the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Welsh Government, the Environment Agency for Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and adjoining Local Planning Authorities.

Sir David added that he expects the site will create major interest among companies seeking to expand in South Wales. “Located between Cardiff and Swansea, the site has direct access from Junction 34 of the M4 and is well placed to provide for large-scale new employment facilities in South Wales.”

Renishaw has already formed links with leading educational establishments in South Wales including Cardiff University, Swansea University, Bridgend College and the University of Wales, Newport. It believes this will encourage further scope for research and development programmes and act as a catalyst for attracting future investment and new business into the area.

Barton Willmore, a leading planning and design consultancy, is providing planning guidance and project management, and together with BWB Consulting and Cresswells has now prepared an outline plan for the area.

All images and text copyright Renishaw

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