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NEWS
Circuit of Wales racing site on track after government decision
POSTED 01 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
The £315m project will take over 830 acres of Blaenau Gwent Credit: Circuit of Wales
The Welsh government has given the green light for a £315m motor racing development, which includes a track, business park and hotels in Blaenau Gwent.

Plans for The Circuit of Wales have moved a step closer after the government gave its final approval to deregister the common land in the Ebbw Vale region of the South Wales county so the development can be built.

The project will take 830 acres of land and was given the go-ahead by deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans. The private developer is the Head of the Valleys Development Company (HOTVDC).

HOTVDC has secured exclusive contracts with private investors, with the rest of the funds expected to come from the Welsh government and local authorities. Backers for the facility will be revealed in the next few weeks.

A 3.5-mile track is set to be built on the site, which will be home to British MotoGP. The development will attract 750,000 visitors per year, and will create 6,000 full-time jobs on top of 3,000 construction jobs – resulting in economic benefits of £50m per annum to Wales.

Evans said the “socio-economic benefits” were a key factor behind the government’s decision, highlighting the “significant public benefit to both the immediate area and beyond”.

Martin Whittaker has been appointed as the Circuit of Wales chief executive and will be charged with turning the plans into a reality.

He will work with HOTVDC chief executive Michael Carrick on delivery. Carrick said he wanted to thank the local councils, Welsh Assembly and the local community “who have supported the project throughout the planning process up to this point”.

“The Circuit of Wales has the ability to generate thousands of employment opportunities, attract greater long-term investment and deliver regeneration into Blaenau Gwent and South Wales,” he added.

In 2013, Spanish company FCC and civil engineer Alun Griffit won the construction contract for work at the site, with designs being created by architects Populous, engineers Arup and Powell Dobson Urbanists.
RELATED STORIES
  Circuit of Wales plans given boost by deal to host MotoGP


Long-held plans for the creation of the £315m (US$525m, €392m) Circuit of Wales racetrack have been boosted after its backers signed a five-year deal to host motorcycling’s British MotoGP event at the venue.
  Work to begin on Circuit of Wales - opening set for 2015


Work is set to begin on a £280m motor racing circuit in Blaenau Gwent, Wales, after the group behind the plans - Heads of the Valleys Development Company (HVDC) - signed a legal agreement with the local council.
  Welsh government puts Circuit of Wales racetrack plans on hold


Development of a £280m motor racing circuit in south Wales has been put on hold while the Welsh government determines its future.
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NEWS
Circuit of Wales racing site on track after government decision
POSTED 01 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
The £315m project will take over 830 acres of Blaenau Gwent Credit: Circuit of Wales
The Welsh government has given the green light for a £315m motor racing development, which includes a track, business park and hotels in Blaenau Gwent.

Plans for The Circuit of Wales have moved a step closer after the government gave its final approval to deregister the common land in the Ebbw Vale region of the South Wales county so the development can be built.

The project will take 830 acres of land and was given the go-ahead by deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans. The private developer is the Head of the Valleys Development Company (HOTVDC).

HOTVDC has secured exclusive contracts with private investors, with the rest of the funds expected to come from the Welsh government and local authorities. Backers for the facility will be revealed in the next few weeks.

A 3.5-mile track is set to be built on the site, which will be home to British MotoGP. The development will attract 750,000 visitors per year, and will create 6,000 full-time jobs on top of 3,000 construction jobs – resulting in economic benefits of £50m per annum to Wales.

Evans said the “socio-economic benefits” were a key factor behind the government’s decision, highlighting the “significant public benefit to both the immediate area and beyond”.

Martin Whittaker has been appointed as the Circuit of Wales chief executive and will be charged with turning the plans into a reality.

He will work with HOTVDC chief executive Michael Carrick on delivery. Carrick said he wanted to thank the local councils, Welsh Assembly and the local community “who have supported the project throughout the planning process up to this point”.

“The Circuit of Wales has the ability to generate thousands of employment opportunities, attract greater long-term investment and deliver regeneration into Blaenau Gwent and South Wales,” he added.

In 2013, Spanish company FCC and civil engineer Alun Griffit won the construction contract for work at the site, with designs being created by architects Populous, engineers Arup and Powell Dobson Urbanists.
RELATED STORIES
Circuit of Wales plans given boost by deal to host MotoGP


Long-held plans for the creation of the £315m (US$525m, €392m) Circuit of Wales racetrack have been boosted after its backers signed a five-year deal to host motorcycling’s British MotoGP event at the venue.
Work to begin on Circuit of Wales - opening set for 2015


Work is set to begin on a £280m motor racing circuit in Blaenau Gwent, Wales, after the group behind the plans - Heads of the Valleys Development Company (HVDC) - signed a legal agreement with the local council.
Welsh government puts Circuit of Wales racetrack plans on hold


Development of a £280m motor racing circuit in south Wales has been put on hold while the Welsh government determines its future.
MORE NEWS
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
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COMPANY PROFILES
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
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