New jobs hope over Sony site sale

Sony was one of the first Japanese firms to operate in Wales

The sale of the site of a Sony plant in south Wales has been welcomed as progress towards recovery from the loss of hundreds of electronics jobs.

Developer Formaction Ltd says it will refurbish the Bridgend factory and break up the site into smaller business units and for warehousing.

Sony announced 650 job losses in June at Bridgend and neighbouring Pencoed.

Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones said it was "only the first step," but a shot in the arm for the local economy.

The Japanese company blamed the cuts - 400 at Bridgend and 250 in Pencoed - on a fall in a demand for traditional televisions.

Redevelopment..will not only attract a high level of investment to Bridgend but result in the creation of a number of new employment opportunities Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies

The Bridgend site is expected to be handed over to Formaction in February 2006, with refurbishment expected to take about 12 months.

James Perry, for Formaction, said the project would create several jobs, but it was hoped many more would be created when complete. The site will be used for warehousing and production.

Derry Newman, managing director of Sony UK Ltd, said: "We are delighted that we have sold the site to Formaction who will ensure that it will be well developed into attractive business units creating new jobs and encouraging local investment".

Proven track record

Sony will continue to carry out manufacturing at its Pencoed plant.

Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said Formaction had a proven track record in redeveloping industrial sites.

"The sale and redevelopment of the former Sony site will not only attract a high level of investment to Bridgend but will result in the creation of a number of new employment opportunities for the area," he said.

The Bridgend area has suffered other job losses since the Sony announcement, with cuts at Kraft-Wrigley, Christie Tyler and Tiles R Us.

Local AM Carwyn Jones said: "The job losses that came as a result of Sony's decision to close its Bridgend plant hit the town hard.

"This is only the first step on the road to recovery for this particular site. It will now be refurbished and divided into a number of smaller units that will once again attract investment and new jobs into the area.

"This is a shot in the arm for the Bridgend economy."