An international engineering firm is the first company to sign a
lease at Rhyd y Blew, the Welsh Government's ‘Grade A' industrial
site in Blaenau Gwent, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and
Planning, , has announced.
Halton Flamgard will lease the newly completed RYB1 unit at the
site in Ebbw Vale, following an £8.9m investment by Welsh
Government in the 52,582 sq ft low carbon facility.
It will see the company, which manufactures damper units for
clients in specialised industrial sectors, relocate its current
operation in Pontypool to the larger modern premises.
Part of a planned expansion, it will see employee numbers soar at
Halton Flamgard from 70 to 168 by 2028.
RYB1 is the only speculatively-developed large-scale industrial
unit developed in Wales in 2024.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, , 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."
Councillor , Blaenau Gwent County Borough
Council Cabinet Member for Place & 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.”
The marketing agent for Rhyd y Blew is Knight Frank.
Neil Francis, Head of Logistics & 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.”
Notes to editors
RYB1 has been designed to meet high standards of sustainability
for a Net Zero Carbon building, and has been granted an
exceptional EPC rating of A+
