Neath Port Talbot Council has submitted plans for a new £20 million industrial research facility in the Harbourside area of Port Talbot. The proposed facility, named the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH), aims to support the decarbonization of the metal and steel industry.
The project is said to be part of the Swansea Bay City Deal, and will be designed and constructed by Morgan Sindall Construction. Led by Neath Port Talbot Council in collaboration with Swansea University, the center is envisioned as an open-access hub connecting academia, industry, and government to accelerate the region’s transition to net-zero emissions.
If approved, the facility will serve as a key driver for innovation and collaboration in the move toward a greener industrial future.
The facility, once completed, will feature workshops, welding zones, mechanical testing areas, laboratory spaces, offices, and more, according to plans.
The submission for the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH) in November follows developments at Port Talbot’s Tata Steel site.
Earlier, the closure of two blast furnaces at the site led to over 2,000 job losses. More recently, Tata Steel submitted plans for a £1.25 billion electric arc furnace to be constructed at the same location, signaling a shift towards modernized steel production.
