International engineering firm Halton Flamgard has struck a deal to take an entire new £8m industrial unit built by the Welsh Government in Blaenau Gwent in an expansion that will more than double its workforce. The company will occupy the 52,588 sq ft Rhyd y Blew One (RYB1) unit, the first development at the 30-acre Welsh Government-owned Rhyd y Blew land site near Ebbw Vale.
Halton Flamgard, which manufactures damper units for clients in specialised industrial sectors, is relocating its smaller operation in Pontypool into RYB1, where over the next three years it plans to see it head count rise from a current 70 to 168. The business was acquired by Finish global group Halton in 2023.
The £8.5m funding for RYB1 came from a Welsh Government £100m commitment back in 2017 for its Tech Valleys initiative, after opting not to back the proposed Circuit of Wales project in Ebbw Vale.
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The building was marketed at £6.50p per sq ft, alongside investment opportunities for the entire 30-acre site, on behalf of the Welsh Government by the Cardiff office of property advisory firm Knight Frank.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said:”We are committed to driving high quality employment opportunities and skills development for local communities across Wales.
“Our significant investment in Rhyd y Blew, which is strategically located in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, compliments our vision for the Tech Valleys area to become globally recognised for new technologies and the advanced manufacturing sector.
“Attracting an international operation like Halton Flamgard to RYB1 highlights the success of our commercial property strategy to drive future economic growth.
“I wish them well with their ambitious growth plans and look forward to seeing local businesses, communities and supply chains benefit.”
Halton Flamgard managing director Lucy Newman said:”We are excited to embark on this new chapter as we move to our state-of-the-art facility. This transition marks a significant milestone for our team, and we are excited about the endless possibilities it brings. Our new space will not only enhance our capabilities but also inspire innovation and collaboration.
“Additionally, this move opens up significant job growth potential, allowing us to expand our workforce and create new opportunities within the community. We look forward to achieving great things together in this dynamic environment.”
John Morgan, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council cabinet member for place and regeneration said:”We are thrilled that we’ve landed a fantastic manufacturing project here in Blaenau Gwent. This is incredible news for our community and a testament to the strong partnerships we’ve built with the Halton management team.
“We would like to thank our partners at Welsh Government for their vision in developing the Rhyd y Blew site. This project aligns perfectly with our vision of attracting inward investment (including relocation projects) and supporting local business growth.
“We believe investing in economic development, business grants, networking, sites and premises, skills and STEM development which results in job creation, wider supply chain opportunities and most importantly drives economic growth across the borough.
“We are proud to have worked so closely with this business to make this a reality, and we look forward to seeing them make a positive impact for our residents and local business economy.”
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Neil Francis, head of logistics and industrial at Knight Frank in Cardiff, said:”The confidence shown by Welsh Government to speculatively develop this building in order to deliver much-needed Grade A accommodation has paid off spectacularly.
“RYB1’s modern design, green credentials and excellent location close to the Heads of the Valleys road proved highly attractive to a number of potential occupiers and we are delighted that Halton Group has taken a lease on the space.”
Knight Frank is marketing the remainder of the land site at property investors and potential occupiers.