Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (BGCBC) unanimously agreed a resolution to grant planning permission to CiNER Glass UK to build a new £390m glass container manufacturing facility which uses recycled glass at the Rassau Industrial Estate, north of Ebbw Vale. The project promises to be one of the largest investments in South Wales for decades, bringing thousands of direct and indirect jobs to the local area.
Following a robust debate in the Council chamber, the recently appointed members of the Planning Committee agreed a resolution to grant approval for the planning application subject to a legally binding (Section 106) agreement, paving the way for CiNER Glass to look towards preparing the site for this major development.
Mrs Didem Ciner, Executive Board Member of CiNER Glass Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased to have received approval to move forward with our exciting plans to build and operate our new glass bottle manufacturing facility in Ebbw Vale. This is the first step towards building a world-class facility in the heart of South Wales and we cannot wait to begin working on making our vision for Blaenau Gwent a reality.”
The project is set to create around 600 highly skilled jobs on a 21.5ha vacant plot within the Rassau Industrial Estate. The hope is that the size and scale of this project can act as a catalyst for economic regeneration, helping increase investment in the circular economy in Wales. The project will also create significant supply chain opportunities, supporting 1,200 indirect jobs in the supply chain. Between 400 – 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with several hundred people working on site during the peak of construction.
The facility, referred to in the planning documents as the “Dragon Glass Bottle Manufacturing Facility”, will consist of a four-part operation for the production of glass containers: melting and forming; the handling of raw materials; inspection and packaging and warehousing. CiNER Glass intends to supply glass bottles to UK food and beverage producers, with a vision to build a world-leading centre of engineering excellence in glass technology in Wales.
The site is currently owned by Welsh Government and BGCBC and, following the granting of planning permission, can now be purchased by CiNER Glass. The multi-phased construction will commence following the completion of the detailed design of the project, with plans for the facility to start producing glass in 2026.
Discussions with local stakeholders will now move forward in earnest as proposals for the facility progress over the coming months. CiNER Glass has identified the main supply chain opportunities and plans to place contracts with local companies wherever possible.
The company is committed to playing an integral role in the local community, with plans to hire local people and foster skills and expertise in Blaenau Gwent, becoming a long-term employer in the area. It has already started to work closely with local colleges, universities and training providers so that it will be able to provide education and training opportunities in the area.
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