A NEW asphalt supply company has signed a lease with ABP South Wales that has allowed them to open their first site at the Port of Newport.

Port Owner and Operator, ABP South Wales, leased the two acre site, located at West Way Road, Alexandra Docks, to Dragon Asphalt, on a long-term lease.

Dragon Asphalt has invested £2.5million in the construction of new premises at Newport docks, which became operational in September 2018.

The company employs five full time members of staff at the site. They also work with several local contractors who undertake electrical and maintenance work to support the business.

Newport was chosen as the base for the business due to the economic viability of the area.

Rhys Morgan, head of property at ABP South Wales said: “We are pleased that Dragon Asphalt has chosen to launch its business at the Port of Newport. The port is able to offer tailored property solutions and is supported by excellent multimodal transport links.

“As well as a large land bank, we have access to in-house funding which allows us to easily support new and smaller customers who wish to open facilities across our ports in South Wales.”

Michael Cowley, managing director of Dragon Asphalt, said: "We moved into Newport for a few reasons. Number one is the financial investment that's gone into the Cardiff and Newport area. I also think the tolls being removed on the Severn Bridge will improve the economic aspect and viability of the Newport area. We've started by serving the local market and are on target for where we thought we'd be in our first month of business.”