TWO sites in Newport and one in Ebbw Vale are among seven in Wales that are still in the running to reap the economic benefits set to follow on the building of a third runway at London's Heathrow airport.

Sites at Associated British Ports (ABP) in Newport, at Llanwern, and at Rhyd-y-Blew, Ebbw Vale, have been included on a longlist to host logistics 'hubs' - locations for the offsite construction of the infrastructure for the runway.

Each hub is expected to deliver huge numbers of jobs and a major economic boost to its area.

Plans for logistics hubs - a number of sites across the UK are under consideration - are part of a wider commitment by Heathrow to use its expansion to revolutionise the way the UK builds major infrastructure, and to spread the economic benefits of the project across the country.

This will be the first major infrastructure project to pioneer the large-scale use of logistics hubs to distribute the economic benefits.

The Welsh Government is promoting seven sites in Wales as potential Heathrow logistics hubs. In addition to the Gwent sites are: The ABP port site, Cardiff; The Airfields, Northern Gateway, Deeside; Brocastle, Bridgend; Tata, Shotton, Deeside.

Economy secretary Ken Skates welcomed the inclusion of the seven sites in Wales on the longlist.

“The construction of Heathrow’s third runway offers huge economic opportunities for businesses right across the UK and I am determined that Welsh companies will be given all the help and support they need to be right at the heart of this significant infrastructure development," he said.

“Securing the location of one of those hubs in Wales would be a significant achievement, bringing with it huge economic benefits.

"The Welsh Government will continue to do all it can behind the scenes to promote the Welsh sites."

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said the inclusion of seven Welsh sites on the longlist "highlights the real opportunities Heathrow has to build networks and partnerships with Welsh businesses and our local expertise."

“The UK Government is committed to opening the infrastructure support channels to boost the Welsh economy," he said.

“Expansion of Heathrow Airport is the right move for Welsh companies, for Welsh passengers and for our communities."

Mr Skates also announced that Wales will host a second Heathrow Business Summit next year, to ensure Welsh companies are well positioned to secure contracts associated with the new runway.

The summit will take place in Cardiff on July 11 next year, hosted by the Welsh Government and Heathrow Airport.

Lord Deighton, chairman of Heathrow, said the third runway project "will rely on talent from all over Britain helping to create a national asset for generations to come."

“This is not a London centric project. It is one we are opening up to the whole of the UK, asking for its skills and expertise to help build an asset this country so desperately needs to safeguard its future prosperity.”