In a countryside location close to the Welsh town of Bridgend on the Vale of Glamorgan boundaries, there currently exists a network of empty roads and footpaths that go absolutely nowhere.

Positioned between the M4 and A48, Brocastle Business Park was constructed to deliver an economic uplift to the region, with the £10 million development backed by the Welsh Government aiming to generate thousands of employment opportunities.

Yet, despite the multiple land parcels being prepared and available for business occupation, there is no sound of industrial activity or conversation from employees present currently, but rather a haunting quiet as none of the territory has been utilised to date.

Brocastle Business Park reached completion in November 2021 on terrain adjacent to the A48, approximately five miles from M4 junction 35.

The development received Welsh Government backing to deliver a "substantial stimulus to employment opportunities" with outline planning permission for as much as 770,000sq feet of commercial space, reports Wales Online.

The construction was undertaken by a regional civil engineering firm and financed with over £10 million from the Welsh Government, incorporating roughly £6.2 million granted via the European Regional Development Fund.

A further £2 million was also allocated to the scheme to connect the fresh employment location to Waterton through an Active Travel Route.

During the launch, the former Economy Minister Vaughan Gething described the "significant investment" as preparation for proposals he anticipated would result in numerous fresh job opportunities. Nevertheless, despite the completion of key roads and provision for nine plots at the location, as of August 2025, none appear to have been utilised with marketing agents still displaying them as available.

Local Community Councillor Keith Hughes said he, like others, felt the area remained in need of additional employment opportunities, adding that he hoped the investment at the location would eventually prove worthwhile.

A statement from Welsh Government said they remained confident that this would be the case, with negotiations on two of the plots currently underway and others being "actively marketed".

They said: "Since substantial completion of the development plots, Brocastle has received a number of serious enquiries from interested parties.

"We are currently negotiating offers on two of the nine plots, one to a developer and one to an owner occupier.

"The remaining plots continue to be actively marketed by commercial property agents and have been attracting steady interest.

"We remain confident that the site will attract further investment to Bridgend and be home to many new jobs in the coming years."