The Springvale Industrial Park was part of the development of the Thornhill neighbourhood by the Cwmbran Development Corporation. This neighbourhood was added to the original Designated Area after 1961, when the target population of the New Town was raised to 55,000, and utilised land that had been prevoiusly occupied by the Guest Keen Nettlefolds factory. The eastern aprt of the neighbourhood, nearest to the Town Centre was redeveloped as the Springvale Industrial Park.

Approved in 1975, the first development was of 47 Advanced factory units varying in size size from 1,250 square feet to 10,000 square feet (116 sq. m to 929 sq. m), built by the CDC in order to attract manufacturing to the town. These were built to a modular pattern to promote flexibility of use and allow them to be tailored to demand. Thirty-four of these were completed the following year, together with a 170-space car park and design work for a custom Siebe Gorman factory. The success of the AFUs was such that another 12 units were approved in 1979, with sites including larger factories such as that for Lucas Girling at over 10,000 square metres. By early 1982 the CDC were looking to expand the industrial estate, with further AFUs of various sizes built up until the winding up of the CDC

S Fielding May 2021

ref: Cwmbran New Town: An urban characterisation study

Site Record

Springvale Industrial Park, Thornhill, Cwmbran