10/04/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

THE DEVELOPMENT of a food park on the outskirts of Haverfordwest is planned to support start up businesses, larger production and create jobs.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet endorsed entering into a joint venture with Welsh Government to work on a strategy to develop 23 acres of council owned land at Withybush.

“The plan will include incubator units specifically targeted at start-up businesses, large food grade production units targeted at both large scale vegetable product, food processing and dairy product suppliers as well as specialist smaller scale outlets and start-up businesses.

“The food park will create additional jobs for the agri-food, storage and supplies and transport and distribution sectors,” a report to cabinet on September 9 states.

Council leader Cllr David Simpson said the venture was “exciting news for the county and the food sector in particular.”

“I think it’s a very important step for Haverfordwest, for Pembrokeshire. There are business all ready and waiting to go up there,” said Clr Simpson, with reference to the smaller incubator units.

Cabinet heard that there had been close work with Ceredigion’s successful food park at Horeb and the return to joint venture work with the Welsh Government was welcomed.

The food park plan has been in the pipeline for a number of years with work due to start in the next few weeks on infrastructure improvements approved in September 2018.

The three phase scheme has a ten to 15 year timeline for completion, director of community services Steven Jones said, with the first set of units set to be in place in the next 18 months.

Cllr Cris Tomos added: “It was great to see at the County Show the number of small producers eager to take up the incubator units.”

Cabinet agreed the proposal to enter into a joint venture with Welsh Government on terms to be agreed by the director of community services in
consultation with the cabinet member for economy, tourism, leisure and culture, Cllr Paul Miller.

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