WORK has started extending an industrial estate after a 12 year wait.
The first phase of the plan to build new units on Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate at Kinmel Bay is underway after years of delays.
Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, Leader of Conwy Council, cut the first sod, accompanied by local councillors and staff from Pure Commercial and K&C Construction, who have started building the first eight units.
Alan Kirkby, development manager at Pure Commercial, said they already had prospective tenants for the first three units.
Mr Kirkby described the start as a “relief” after Environment Agency concerns about flooding on the site.
He said: “There has been a full environmental assessment carried out, and things are taking off. We are also planning to reel it out at St Asaph business park as part of the New Vision project. Hopefully that will start in the new year.”
The Kinmel Bay site, which is designed to allow small and medium sized businesses to build units to their own specifications, covers 15 hectares.
John Bevan, county councillor for Kinmel Bay, said: “There has been a lot of hard work by the council to get the estate up and running. People are now making enquiries to put units up. I’m absolutely delighted, as we’ve been looking at this for 12 years.
“The Environment Agency weren’t happy with the coastal protection, from the Clwyd Bank area to Sandy Cove, but we’ve had those areas made good.”
Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is a long awaited boost to the local economy. Conwy County Borough Council’s Business and Enterprise team are working hard to support businesses looking to locate to this development site and will work closely with all applicants.”
The first unit is expected to be up and running by next summer.