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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Defence academy plan is approved | Defence academy plan is approved |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Planning permission for a new defence training academy which will create thousands of jobs in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been granted. | Planning permission for a new defence training academy which will create thousands of jobs in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been granted. |
| The £12bn project at St Athan will give specialist training to all the armed services. | The £12bn project at St Athan will give specialist training to all the armed services. |
| Construction is due to begin late next year after the scheme was approved by councillors at a special planning meeting on Thursday. | Construction is due to begin late next year after the scheme was approved by councillors at a special planning meeting on Thursday. |
| But the final say on the go-ahead rests with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). | But the final say on the go-ahead rests with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). |
| The MoD announced in 2007 that it was to train servicemen and women at the Defence Technical College (DTC). | |
| The college will provide specialist engineering, communications and information systems training to all the UK's armed forces, bringing them together in one location on new premises. | The college will provide specialist engineering, communications and information systems training to all the UK's armed forces, bringing them together in one location on new premises. |
| The DTC will also have recreational and sporting facilities which will be available for public use at set times. | |
| Metrix, the consortium behind the scheme who will build and run the site, said around 2,200 jobs would be created. | Metrix, the consortium behind the scheme who will build and run the site, said around 2,200 jobs would be created. |
| Most of the jobs will be in security, cleaning and catering. | Most of the jobs will be in security, cleaning and catering. |
| On average during the four-year construction period, there will be 800 building workers employed. | On average during the four-year construction period, there will be 800 building workers employed. |
| 'Step forward' | 'Step forward' |
| Metrix chairman Charles Barrington said: "It is truly a win-win situation for all the stakeholders involved in this nationally important project. | Metrix chairman Charles Barrington said: "It is truly a win-win situation for all the stakeholders involved in this nationally important project. |
| "This decision is a huge step forward in our plans to reach contract agreement with the MoD in 2010." | "This decision is a huge step forward in our plans to reach contract agreement with the MoD in 2010." |
| Vale of Glamorgan MP Labour MP John Smith said: "This record investment is going ahead here in the Vale and I want people here to get ready for it. | Vale of Glamorgan MP Labour MP John Smith said: "This record investment is going ahead here in the Vale and I want people here to get ready for it. |
| "Get ready to make the most of the tens of millions of pounds that will be injected into the local economy each year." | "Get ready to make the most of the tens of millions of pounds that will be injected into the local economy each year." |
| Construction had been expected to start in the autumn of 2010, and the facility is planned to open at the beginning of 2014. | Construction had been expected to start in the autumn of 2010, and the facility is planned to open at the beginning of 2014. |
| But BBC Wales's business correspondent Nick Servini said a final decision on the academy was unlikely to be made before next year's general election. | But BBC Wales's business correspondent Nick Servini said a final decision on the academy was unlikely to be made before next year's general election. |
| Timetable | Timetable |
| The MoD may not decide until 2011, he said. | The MoD may not decide until 2011, he said. |
| A revised timetable on the decision-making is due to be announced next month. | A revised timetable on the decision-making is due to be announced next month. |
| Last week, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Dr Vince Cable said the training academy should be scrapped because it was too costly in the current economic climate. | Last week, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Dr Vince Cable said the training academy should be scrapped because it was too costly in the current economic climate. |
| Plaid Cymru members passed a motion recognising opposition within their ranks at their annual conference this month. | Plaid Cymru members passed a motion recognising opposition within their ranks at their annual conference this month. |
| At the same meeting on Thursday, the Vale of Glamorgan council approved a proposal for a new Aerospace Business Park (ABP). | |
| It will be developed by the Welsh Assembly Government and will take advantage of the existing operational runway. | |
| Metrix estimates that the combined economic impact of the DTC and ABP will be around £500m per year. |