Wales gets green light for studio project

A £350m studio development, dubbed Valleywood, in Llanilid has been given planning approval.

The green light from Rhondda Cynon Taf council means that developer Dragon International Studios could start work on site next year with an expected project team of 1,000 workers.

Chaired by Richard Attenborough, Dragon has already bought 141ha on the former open-cast mine between Cardiff and Bridgend.

Split into two phases, a studio development and an all-weather theme park, phase one could be completed by 2004 with phase two finalised by 2006.

The Welsh Assembly had originally blocked the plans due to concerns over proposals for a new exit for the studios from the M4 motorway.

However officials withdrew their objections after the council made economic cases for the project.