**Major Redevelopment Proposed for Former Ford Plant in Bridgend, Wales**
A significant transformation could soon be underway in south Wales, as proposals to redevelop the former Ford engine plant in Waterton, Bridgend, have been formally lodged with local authorities. If approved, the ambitious scheme is forecasting the creation of up to 600 new jobs over the span of its development, bringing renewed hope to a region that has faced industrial decline since Ford shuttered its facility in 2020.
The detailed plans, brought forward by US-based Vantage Data Centres, envision the construction of a sprawling data centre campus on the site that once echoed with car manufacturing for over four decades. Vantage, which already operates a similar facility in Newport, has outlined intentions to act as owner, builder, and manager of the new complex, which would see a phased build-out over the next fifteen years, reshaping the local economic landscape if given the green light.
The submitted application covers broad masterplans for the entire data campus, as well as a full proposal for the campus’s inaugural building, with hopes to commence construction in early 2026. The long-term project would see the campus expand to include up to ten individual data centres, three new electricity substations, new access roads, landscaped areas, pedestrian pathways, and extensive parking – just two miles away from the heart of Bridgend town centre.
Before submitting its planning application, Vantage Data Centres engaged with the community, organising feedback events and initiating a public consultation to gauge the views of those living in proximity to the old Ford plant. Many local residents still recall the plant’s closure as a painful economic blow, but the redevelopment has been highlighted as a key objective for leaders at both the county and regional levels ever since.
Commentary from planning documents underscores the rarity and scale of the proposal: “Since its closure in September 2020, the redevelopment of the BEP site has been a local and regional priority,” the submission explains. “Vantage’s proposal matches that ambition and will help to deliver it. The data centre campus proposes the transformation of the whole site, with Vantage acting as owner, developer and operator of the project…the scale of this economic development is rarely encountered in Wales.”
If fully realised, the Bridgend campus would be roughly four times larger in capacity than Vantage’s existing operation in Newport. The sheer scale is predicted to have a substantial economic impact, both in direct employment and in anticipated business rates for Bridgend County Borough Council, estimated at £8.3 million every year once the complex is operational. The quality of new jobs is also being emphasised, with projections of well-remunerated technical and support roles to be created as the project matures.
In terms of timeline, the plan divides the build into three primary phases, incrementally transforming the former industrial site over fifteen years. Initial works – for which consent has already been obtained – will focus on the demolition of above-ground structures and clearance of the remaining equipment and slabs, paving the way for new construction.
This redevelopment represents a significant pivot from the site’s automotive legacy to one anchored in digital infrastructure, mirroring broader trends as the Welsh economy seeks to modernise and diversify. Data centres are increasingly vital for the digital age, providing secure locations for companies to store, process, and manage growing quantities of data.
While the anticipated transformation is welcomed by many as a positive step towards economic regeneration and future-proofing of local jobs, the scope and specifics of the proposal will now undergo close scrutiny by Bridgend council’s planning officials. Public reaction so far appears cautiously optimistic, with some residents voicing hopes that the project will offer opportunities to upskill the workforce, attract further investment, and revitalise the area’s prospects.
Over the coming months, as consultations continue and details are ironed out, all eyes in Bridgend will be on the planning process. The redevelopment of the former Ford site into a pivotal piece of Wales’s digital infrastructure may represent not just the end of an era, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the town and wider region.