A Gwent industrial estate is reaping the benefit of strong demand for small units.

This is the view of Rosie Gaunt, local property manager for Saville Gordon Estates, which owns a large chunk of the Springvale Industrial estate in Cwmbran.

In contrast to reports that the South Wales industrial property market is flooded by millions of vacant square feet divided among several large units, the market for medium to small units is extremely buoyant, she said.

Her view is supported by increasing demand for smaller units across the company's South Wales portfolio, which is equal to 232,603 sq ft.

"If you disregard the new, larger property, built as part of a global trend and now out of step with current demand, the South Wales property market is still performing with reasonable confidence," she said "The area has a lot to offer, including good road and rail links, combined with lower rentals.

"The lower end of the market and secondhand properties continue to operate at a relatively high level.

"Most occupiers in South Wales require less than 50,000 sq ft so it is the smaller units that are in most demand. Saville Gordon Estates continues to invest in second-hand Welsh property and, in line with the company's strategy, we extensively refurbish these schemes to provide high quality industrial space with realistic rents."

The Springvale estate is regarded as well-located and modern with good access and with units of 750 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft.

"We've really turned the situation around at this estate and we now have a waiting list for premises there, said Ms Gaunt.

"If you look at the voids rate for Wales and the Gwent area it looks a bit scarey but a lot of them are big units and these are distorting the market. But the smaller units are flying off the shelves.

"The popularity of Springvale is vast and there is nothing vacant - or if there is, it is gone within weeks.

"The attractions are good access to the M4 and a clean environment, and we have spent a lot of time in landscaping. There are all sorts of occupiers there and it works very well."

Saville Gordon also has production and warehouse units below 2,500 sq ft available at its Port-manmoor Road Industrial Estate in Cardiff.

There is an encouraging level of inquiries for these units, with several under offer. Other units at the estate, located within the popular Ocean Park trading area and only 4.5 miles from the M4, range up to 4,677 sq ft.

Saville Gordon Estates' other Cardiff-based industrial estate, Tollgate Close, is two miles from the city with good access to the M4. Units range between 4,903 sq ft and 6,651 sq ft. Smaller units at Brackla Industrial Estate in Bridgend, close to Junction 36 of the M4, from 1,650 sq ft to 3,330 sq ft, are also proving popular.

In Swansea, at St Davids Industrial Estate, units range from 787 sq ft to 4,162 sq ft. The estate is located in a mixed commercial area, again with access to the M4.

Though relatively far-flung from Gwent, these properties and the interest being taken in them highlight the attraction of the extended M4 corridor in Wales. Gwent can claim prime-site status, especially with the city of Newport now forming the gateway to the Principality.