1700 jobs created by this – pity though the project was delayed initially by bureaucrats in-fighting
Curtain up on Valleywood studios
Work is beginning on an ambitious £330m film studio complex in south Wales, following months of delays. Construction on the first stage of the 1,700-job scheme, dubbed Valleywood, will start at a former open cast mine site at Llanilid, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The project, backed by actor and producer Richard Attenborough, has secured European Objective One funding.The first phase of work at the 317-acre site will build five stages, which are due to open in February 2006.
Lord Attenborough – star of such films as Brighton Rock and Jurassic Park, and director of Gandhi and A Bridge Too Far – will be joined by RCT council leader Russell Roberts to launch the scheme officially on Wednesday morning.
Lord Attenborough, the chairman of Dragon International Studios, said work on the main studio complex would start before October 2005.
“This will mean that we are able to offer a whole range of further facilities to house television production, international feature films and multimedia businesses by the spring of 2007,” he said.
Developer Stuart Villard said the work starting on Wednesday was just the starting point.
“I would like to emphasise that this facility, to be known as Dragon Plus, represents just the initial phase of a far larger major film studio development at Llanilid,” he said.
“There is a huge demand at the moment for facilities to house TV drama production, particularly in Wales.
This development is not just good news for Rhondda Cynon Taf, it is good news for Wales and firmly places us on the world stage
Councillor Russell Roberts“The five stages we are starting to build, in association with Dragon International Studios, will go a long way towards meeting that demand. The first stages will open at the end of February 2006.”
Construction had been held up by delays in securing grants, and by the discovery of rare dormice on the site.
But it is finally going ahead after the confirmation that Objective One funding would be provided from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Plans opposed
RCT leader Mr Roberts said he was “delighted” to be involved.
“This is one of the largest inward investment projects in Europe and we can all be proud that this prestigious scheme is being created here in Rhondda Cynon Taf,” he said.
“This development is not just good news for Rhondda Cynon Taf, it is good news for Wales and firmly places us on the world stage.”
Welsh Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said the studios would become “a major economic catalyst for the area”.
The film studio scheme was first put forward in 2001 but plans were initially opposed by the Welsh assembly.
These objections were withdrawn in October 2002 and an initial planning application was approved by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in December that year.
Gwaith yn dechrau ar stiwdio ffilm
Mae’r Arglwydd Richard Attenborough y tu cefn i’r cynllun
Mae’r gwaith o adeiladu stiwdios ffilm gwerth £330m yn ne Cymru yn cychwyn ar ôl misoedd o oedi.
Dyma fydd y cam cyntaf yn y cynllun i droi hen waith glo brig yn Llanilid ger Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr yn stiwdio a pharc ffilm.
Mae’r cynllun yn cael cefnogaeth yr Arglwydd Richard Attenborough ac mae wedi derbyn arian Amcan Un o Ewrop.
Mae disgwyl i ran gyntaf y safle fod ar agor ym mis Chwefror 2006 gyda rhan gyntaf y gwaith yn cychwyn ddydd Mercher.
Bydd y safle 317 acer yn cael ei adeiladu mewn pump cam.
Bydd yr Arglwydd Attenborough ac arweinydd Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf, Russell Roberts, yn bresennol yn y seremoni swyddogol ddydd Mercher i gychwyn y gwaith.
Dyma gatalydd economaidd allweddol i’r ardal
Andrew Davies, Gweinidog Datblygu Economaidd y Cynulliad
Mae disgwyl i’r gwaith greu 1,700 o swyddi.
Dywedodd yr Arglwydd Attenborough, cadeirydd Dragon International Studios, y bydd y gwaith ar y stiwdio ei hun yn cychwyn cyn diwedd mis Hydref 2005.
“Fe fydd hyn yn golygu y gallwn gynnig amrywiaeth o adnoddau ar gyfer cynhyrchu rhaglenni teledu, ffilmiau a busnesau aml gyfrwng erbyn gwanwyn 2007,” meddai.
Eglurodd Stuart Villard, Cadeirydd Westair Properties, y datblygwyr, mai’r cam cyntaf yn unig sy’n cychwyn ddydd Mercher.
“Hoffwn danlinellu y bydd y cam yma, a fydd yn cael ei adnabod fel Dragon Plus, yn cynrychioli’r cam cyntaf mewn prosiect llawer mwy ar y safle yn Llanilid,” meddai.
‘Balch’
“Mae ‘na alw enfawr ar hyn o bryd am yr adnoddau yma i fod yn gartref i ddrama deledu yng Nghymru.
“Fe fydd yr hyn y byddwn yn ei wneud, mewn cydweithrediad â Dragon International Studios yn mynd ymhell iawn tuag at y galw.”
Cafodd y gwaith ei atal am gyfnod oherwydd bod angen sicrhau grantiau ac fe gafodd math prin o lygod eu canfod ar y safle.
Fe fydd y stiwdios yn cael eu hadeiladu ar safle hen waith glo brig
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Roberts ei fod yn falch iawn o’r cynllun.
“Dyma un o’r buddsoddiadau mwyaf ac fe allwn ni fod yn falch iawn bod y cynllun yma yn cael ei greu yma yn Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“Mae’r cynllun yma yn newyddion da i’r sir ond mae hefyd yn newyddion i Gymru ac yn ein gosod ni ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol,” meddai.
Dywedodd Andrew Davies, Gweinidog Datblygu Economaidd y Cynulliad, bod hwn yn “gatalydd economaidd allweddol i’r ardal.”
Cafodd y cynllun ei gyflwyno gyntaf yn 2001 ond fe wrthododd y cynulliad y cynnig gwreiddiol.
Cafodd y gwrthwynebiad ei dynnu yn Hydref 2001 cyn i Gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf gymeradwyo’r cynllun ym mis Rhagfyr 2001.
