A company will use a former aircraft hangar to start building electric cars that promise to be a “wholly Welsh-built product” after the Vale Council gave consent for the plans.
Morris Commercial Ltd has been given permission by Vale of Glamorgan Council to re-use an aircraft hangar in Bro Tathan as “facility for the assembly of electric vehicles”.
In the meeting to approve the development the proposal was overwhelmingly supported by the councillors on the planning committee.
Cllr Nic Hodges said: “It’s about time we had an automotive industry we can count on in Wales.”
This was followed by Cllr Mark Wilson who said: “This is the sort of development that we very much need in southeast Wales”. Cllr Eddie Williams said the proposal has “so many pluses”.
In the same meeting Dana Williams, who spoke on behalf of the company, said the site would be used to make a “wholly Welsh-built product” and the proposal would bring “advanced manufacturing positions” and “high-skill employment” to the local community.
Planning documents for the proposal read: “Morris Commercial Ltd will operate a new electric vehicle assembly facility that is anticipated to generate c. 100 jobs for the workshop area, and a further 50 jobs for non-factory staff and paint shop staff, to the benefit of the local job market.”
It continued: “Whilst the exact breakdown of new jobs is currently unknown it is anticipated that the majority will be direct jobs, with a small proportion of contractor roles.”
The hangar sits on the former Ministry of Defence St Athan airfield, which now sees mixed use between civilian businesses and army and Royal Air Force personnel.
The site will see the production of the Morris JE, which Ms Williams called “an all-electric reimagining of the iconic Morris J Type van”.
She said the company holds “over 6,500 confirmed pre-orders” for the car.
The company representative added that this development represented “precisely the kind of investment Wales needs to make”.
An Aston Martin factory is also located on the wider site of Bro Tathan.

Barry Dock RNLI and lifeguards helps welcome King’s Baton Relay into Wales
Vale Food Trail draws more than 1,500 visitors during two‑week celebration
Councillors grill Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales over state of local bathing waters
Wales’ new local government and housing minister faces questions in the Senedd
St Nicholas Primary School Earns UNICEF Gold Award for Children’s Rights Work
Senedd members agree motion to create a register for lobbyists
Fonmon Castle has unveiled one of its most unusual – and already most talked‑about – events for 2026: The Great Crisp and Potato Festival.
Popular former wedding venue could see use as guesthouse
Barry Round Table and Barry 41 Club Launch Year‑Long Fundraising Campaign for Ronald McDonald House
Three arrested in connection with multi-million-pound cannabis importation
E‑bike Seized in Llantwit Major as Police Step Up Action on Illegal Riding
First Minister questioned on housing, the Armed Forces, and Nation of Sanctuary plan in FMQs
Calls for Welsh Government to end term-time only pay for school support staff
New deputy minister for transport addresses need for key infrastructure resilience
Filming underway with Ruth Jones and Steve Speirs for brand new Welsh BBC comedy, Better Later
Llansannor and Llanharry Primary Praised for ‘Nurturing’ and ‘Inclusive’ Environment in New Estyn Report
The candidates standing in the upcoming Baruc ward by-election
Former Ysgol Y Deri Headteacher Chris Britten Awarded MBE for Services to Education
Spectrum Singers celebrate 25 years with a sold‑out Silver anniversary concert at Penarth Pier Pavilion
Barry Family Receives Posthumous Welsh Athletics Award Honouring Long-Serving Teacher