In the summer 2007 Spring, which is the regeneration and residential division of Castlemore Securities, acquired The British from former landowners Britannia Land (South Wales) Ltd. The British is one of the largest Brownfield sites in South Wales at Talywain, approximately 6km northwest of Pontypool. The total site extends to approximately 1,000 acres; of which approximately 150 acres is targeted for a multi million pound redevelopment.

The British was formerly occupied by The British Iron Works and several collieries, and was a key mining area until the last mine closed in 1984 on safety grounds. The area has been subject to over 200 years of despoliation by heavy industry including several collieries, an ironworks and landfill operations. The site requires a full reclamation scheme to make it safe from historic mine workings to permit development and bring it back into beneficial use for future generations of Talywain and North Torfaen.

Regeneration of The British is of great importance to Torfaen, and the Heads of The Valleys Initiative by enhancing the appeal of Talywain to create a vibrant economic and social landscape offering new opportunities for people to live and work, and stop outward migration or ‘leakage’ of local people.

Master planning of The British will involve the provision of:

• Approximately 800 new homes
• Retail and leisure employment opportunities
• Preservation and enhancement of existing heritage features
• Improved accessibility with footpaths, cycle ways and roads to improve
  permeability with the existing settlement of Talywain
• Protection of existing wildlife and improvements to adjacent habitats
• Creation of on-site public open space
• The wider land holdings contribution to the Valleys Regional Park initiative