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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
£300m railway project in Powys delayed by five years risks local job opportunities and economic boost
£300m railway project in Powys delayed by five years risks local job opportunities and economic boost A report to a Powys County Council committee has revealed that one of the biggest employment projects in the county is running five years later than planned The project would potentially introduce hundreds of jobs (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A rail track testing facility project near Ystradygynlais has experienced significant delays, now running at least five years late, according to recent disclosures. The plan promises substantial economic benefits by potentially introducing hundreds of jobs and is anticipated to inject approximately £300m into the local economy. During a Powys County Council's Governance and Audit committee session, councillors together with lay members reviewed a report on the risks the council faces from repurposing the former Nant Helen coal drift mine into a state-of-the-art Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE). Diane Reynolds, director of economic development and growth, informed the committee that they can expect GCRE to submit additional planning applications for the site to the council in the upcoming year. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Planning permissions confirming the fundamental viability of redeveloping the location were secured from both Powys and Neath Port Talbot council's planning committees back in 2021. In the previous year, GCRE had secured approval from planning authorities to extend the time permitted to deliver detailed designs for the project. A site masterplan shows how the GCRE will take shape. (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Article continues below The facility was initially slated to be up and running by 2025, however this no longer appears to be the case. Ms Reynolds clarified: "These things change over time they are looking to put in a revised planning applications." The upcoming plans are set to include the refurbishment of a footpath encircling the area, which could become part of a new cycle route. She added: "I think they are looking at improving access as well." Committee vice-chairman and lay member John Brautigam expressed concern, stating: "There is a risk stated in the report that there is a skills deficit for the jobs that would be needed there. What is being done about that?". Ms Reynolds responded that they have a massive programme to attract people into the world of engineering. She explained: "They have been conducting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sessions with Year Six pupils, reaching out to all of the local schools, providing training and sparking interest among young people in the types of skills that will be required for the future operation of such a site. "We don't anticipate the site to be operational until 2030 so we're talking five years. "They have also been working diligently with the Welsh and UK Government on any individuals that will be displaced as part of the steelworks ceasing. "They have been re-training local people in the rail industry so they can assume positions in the future." Mr Brautigam responded: "Thank you I'm glad to hear there is some activity in that direction anyway." Committee chairwoman and lay member Lynne Hamilton suggested that another report on the development should be presented to the committee in the future to ensure that the council's risks are being "managed appropriately,". Article continues below
ITV News
3 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Global Centre of Rail Excellence: £400m rail testing facility 'delayed for five years'
A state of the art rail testing facility near Ystradgynlais is at least five years behind schedule, it has been revealed. On Friday, Powys County Council councillors received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn washery site into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE). The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area. The committee were told by director of economic development and growth Diane Reynolds that further planning applications from GCRE for the site were expected to be submitted next year. Planning permission which agreed the principle of developing the site were agreed by both Powys and Neath Port Talbot council planning committees back in 2021. Last year GCRE had an application to extend the timescale allowed to provide detailed plans for the facility, approved by planners. The Welsh Government first revealed plans for the site back in 2018, and it was originally expected that the site would be operational by 2025. Ms Reynolds explained: 'These things change over time they are looking to put in a revised planning applications.' Future proposals would include restoring a footpath that goes around the edge which could form part of a cycle way. 'I think they are looking at improving access as well,' said Ms Reynolds. Committee vice-chairman and lay member John Brautigam said: 'There is a risk stated in the report that there is a skills deficit for the jobs that would be needed there. 'What is being done about that?' Ms Reynolds said: 'The GCRE have a huge programme to entice people into engineering." 'They have been doing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sessions with Year Six pupils going out to all of the local schools providing training and getting young people interested in the types of skills that will be needed for the future running of such a site. 'We don't expect the site to be up and running until 2030 so we're talking five years. 'They have also been working really hard with the Welsh and UK Government on any people that will be displaced as part of the steelworks ceasing. 'They have been re-training local people in the rail industry so they can take up positions in the future.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ystradygynlais rail track testing complex at former mine delayed
A rail track testing facility set to bring thousands of jobs to an area of mid Wales is at least five years behind schedule, it has been permission was granted to transform the former Nant Helen coal drift mine near Ystradygynlais, Powys into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE) back in was originally expected the site would be operational by this year, but last year GCRE was granted more time to provide detailed Friday, councillors received a report outlining the risks of the project and were told the need for revised planning permission to be submitted meant the site was unlikely to be completed until 2030. The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300m into the earlier this year, GCRE said "limited funds" had been set aside for the site's Reynolds, Powys council's director of economic development and growth, said future proposals would include restoring a footpath that goes around the edge of the site, which could form part of a cycleway."I think they are looking at improving access as well," she concerns about skills deficit in the area for the new jobs, Ms Reynolds said the GCRE had "a huge programme to entice people into engineering"."They have been doing Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sessions with Year Six pupils going out to all of the local schools, providing training and getting young people interested in the types of skills that will be needed for the future running of such a site."
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys: Council told former Nant Helen plans behind schedule
A PROJECT to develop rail track testing facilities in south Powys is at least five years behind schedule – it has been revealed. At a meeting of Powys County Council's Governance and Audit committee on Friday, (June 20), councillors and lay members received a report outlining the risks to the council associated with transforming the former Nant Helen coal drift mine near Ystradygynlais into a Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE). The development has a potential to create hundreds of jobs and could revitalise the economy bringing in an estimated £300 million into the area. The committee were told by director of economic development and growth Diane Reynolds that further planning applications from GCRE for the site were expected to be lodged with the council next year. Planning permission which agreed the principle of developing the site were agreed by both Powys and Neath Port Talbot council planning committee's back in 2021. Last year GCRE had an application to extend the timescale allowed to provide detailed plans for the facility, approved by planners. It was originally expected that the site would be operational by 2025. Ms Reynolds explained: 'These things change over time they are looking to put in a revised planning applications.' Future proposals would include restoring a footpath that goes around the edge which could form part of a cycle way. 'I think they are looking at improving access as well,' said Ms Reynolds. Committee vice-chairman and lay member John Brautigam said: 'There is a risk stated in the report that there is a skills deficit for the jobs that would be needed there. What is being done about that?' Ms Reynolds said: 'The GCRE have a huge programme to entice people into engineering. 'They have been doing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sessions with Year Six pupils going out to all of the local schools providing training and getting young people interested in the types of skills that will be needed for the future running of such a site. 'We don't expect the site to be up and running until 2030 so we're talking five years. 'They have also been working really hard with the Welsh and UK Government on any people that will be displaced as part of the steelworks ceasing. 'They have been re-training local people in the rail industry so they can take up positions in the future.' Mr Brautigam said: 'Thank you I'm glad to hear there is some activity in that direction anyway.' Committee chairwoman and lay member Lynne Hamilton believed that another report on the development should be brought to the committee in future so that the committee is assured that the council's risks are being 'managed appropriately,'
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ystradgynlais: 'Limited funds' to restore Nant Helen mine site
Not enough money has been set aside to complete restoration work at a former opencast mine, according to planning documents. There are plans to create a £400m Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) at the site of Nant Helen former opencast mine near Ystradgynlais, Powys. Coaling was due to stop on the site in 2021 with restoration work planned to be completed by 2022, after money was set aside by Celtic Energy. Powys County Council said enforcement action against Celtic Energy continued after the company failed to restore the site in the expected time scale. The GCRE train testing site was first announced by the Welsh government in 2018 and aims to create a site for world-class 2021, a land option deal was completed for the sites at the Nant Helen surface mine and Onllwyn coal washery, which saw Celtic Energy gift the land for the planned train, rail infrastructure and technology testing facility. An escrow account contains money set aside by Celtic Energy while coal was extracted at the site to fund restoration when work had GCRE, which is now liable for the site, said there were "limited funds contained within escrow to cover the costs of restoration". Developers at GCRE have asked Powys council planners if detailed proposals were needed to change the already approved restoration will determine whether revised proposed changes to the development constitutes Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, which would need an environmental planning documents said some works had been undertaken to spread soils within the former area of the opencast void, but the "majority of restoration works remain to be completed".They added the site could help "contribute" to the Welsh government's ambition of creating a national forest if tree planting were allowed there. This would be "balanced" with the original concept of upland grazing at the site and could be "funded separately" from the escrow, GCRE said. The proposed changes are not anticipated to negatively impact designated ecological or cultural heritage features, the planning documents added. Nant Helen straddles the county border between Powys and Neath Port Talbot councils. The last version of the restoration scheme was agreed by councillors in March 2020 at planning committee meetings in both Powys and Neath Port were "assured" at the time the £19.8m in escrow would fully fund the restoration was revealed in September 2022 that enforcement action had been taken by Powys County Council against Celtic Energy because the company had not completed the restoration of the site in line with the planning permission and expected time scale.A council spokesman confirmed enforcement action is still ongoing and "remains open."A decision on the scoping opinion request is expected later this month.
