BRIDGEND County Borough Council has welcomed news that the former Bridgend Ford engine plant site is to play a major role in the development of a new South Wales AI Growth Zone.
Since the engine plant closed in 2020, the council and its partners have been lobbying and working to draw fresh investment into the 158-acre site, which was purchased by Vantage Data Centres in 2024. Outline planning consent was granted earlier this year for the development of a new data centre campus which is expected to be at the forefront of the AI Growth Zone.
Comprising of 10 main buildings and three sub-stations, the project is expected to create up to 5,000 new jobs ranging from construction to long-term AI careers. It will also work alongside colleges and universities to create opportunities for young people to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.
Councillor John Spanswick, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “South Wales has a longstanding history as a centre of industry, but as needs change and time passes, it becomes essential to adapt to emerging new technologies in order to avoid being left behind.
“The UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has confirmed that the AI Growth Zone will be made up of several sites stretching along the M4 corridor, and the multi-million-pound investment by Vantage Data Centres into the former Ford site is going to place Bridgend County Borough at the centre of future AI development in the UK.
“This is exciting news for the county borough, especially as it brings with it a £5m package of support designed to help businesses between here and Newport adapt to new AI technologies, provide fresh training for their staff, and ultimately benefit from the economic and technological advantages.”
This will be the second AI Growth Zone announced for Wales following news that Prosperity Parc on Anglesey and Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd will form another zone, creating a further 3,400 new jobs.
