The current status of GCRE

The current status of GCRE

Outline planning consent for GCRE was granted by Neath Port Talbot Council and Powys County Council in 2021. Various tier one contractors have now been appointed including Hirwaun-based Walters Group who are working with Atkins to prepare the site for construction.

Arcadis are developing the rail systems design and Mott MacDonald is focused on the net zero energy strategy. A multidisciplinary team has also been appointed to produce an overarching masterplan for the transformation of the site. 5th Studio, Expedition Engineering, Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects, Faithful & Gould, Fairhurst, PRD, Wildwood Ecology and Thirty 4/7 are in the process of developing a holistic spatial plan that will incorporate the track testing facility including proposals for the future landscape of the whole site, together with an innovation campus incorporating visitor accommodation. This integrated design process will include public consultation to engage and integrate the views of local residents.

The project is split in to three core phases:

• Phase 1 – The provision of sidings for rolling stock from June 2023
• Phase 2 – The building of two electrified test loops, one high speed test loop 6.9Km long and a 4.5km Infrastructure test loop together with supporting infrastructure and buildings from 2024
• Phase 3: The addition of expanded stabling, maintenance, and commissioning facilities along with research facilities, hotel, and business park in 2025 and ongoing.

We expect the first phase of the masterplan construction to be completed by the middle of 2025.