New jobs boost for Rhondda

A new £3.6m venture which will bring hundreds of job opportunities to the site of the former Burberry factory at Treorci in the Rhondda Valley is being announced by Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Renamed Parc Busnes Treorci, the site will be refurbished and transformed into a business centre with 15 quality industrial units for local enterprises, 90,000 square feet of floor space and around 10,000 square feet of offices.

Backed with almost £2 million from the Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government, the renovation project is being led by two South Wales businessmen, Michael Henderson and Robert Kearns, who have also made a significant investment.

The project has also received £118,550 funding from the Heads of the Valleys programme for site preparation works necessary to bring the redundant building back into full use and for the creation of a dedicated marketing suite on site.

Mr Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said:

"I am delighted to announce that the former Burberry site has been purchased and will be developed as a business park for local enterprises.

"The community was dealt an enormous blow when the factory closed and moved production overseas with the loss of over 300 jobs.

"Now, the site will provide new, sustainable employment opportunities, created through partnership working across the public and private sector to support local businesses and entrepreneurs which, in turn, will bring increased prosperity to the whole community."

The intention is to attract local businesses by offering quality units at competitive rates and at an appropriate size to match demand.

Mr Kearns of Parc Busnes Treorci, said:

"We are delighted that the Assembly Government has chosen to support this vision for breathing new life into the business community and jobs market of the Rhondda. This exciting new development is a perfect example of how the public and private sector in Wales can work hand in hand to re-vitalise sites abandoned by multinationals in favour of cheap labour overseas. We are confident that smaller units with shorter tenancy options and competitive rates will attract a range of local businesses to the site."

Work will get underway to develop the site in December this year.

Mr Henderson said:

"Together we can utilise these assets to the best advantage of the new Welsh economy. The new business park will be specifically designed with small local businesses in mind. Being Rhondda born and bred, I am particularly pleased to see this new project get off the ground and create much needed jobs in Rhondda Cynon Taf."