Circuit of Wales gets the go ahead

The proposed plans for the a 3.5 mile Circuit of Wales were today granted outline planning by Blaenau Gwent County Borough.

The £280m state-of-the-art motorsport facility, will be developed by Heads of the Valleys Development Company Ltd, covers 830-acres in the Ebbw Vale, with a view to begin construction later this year.

The Circuit of Wales will be certified to host national and international motorsport events, and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has already seen the plans, and believes it can host a MotoGP race.

The circuit and facilities are expected to provide up to 6,000 full-time jobs once the circuit is completed in 2015/16.

Speaking upon the news of the approval, Chief Executive of the Heads of the Valleys Development Company Ltd Michael Carrick said: “I’d like to acknowledge the tremendous support of the local community of Blaenau Gwent and the Welsh Government. We promise to deliver a truly innovative and sustainable business, helping to deliver long-term economic and social benefits for the region.

“It is a hugely important development, not just for the regeneration of Blaenau Gwent but also for the UK economy, and will enable significant private capital to be mobilised. This is a showcase for a new type of investment model, a partnership between private investment and government to deliver a transformational business to the region.”