Outline planning application on the Circuit of Wales has been approved this afternoon after Blaenau Gwent County Borough council voted unanimously for the development to go ahead.

Unlike the majority of planning decisions that are made by the Council's Planning department, the future of the Circuit of Wales was decided by the full Council, due to the significance of the project. An original decision was meant to have been made back in June, but objections from local environmental groups halted the planning process.

The plans include a three and a half mile circuit, designed to host MotoGP, World Superbikes, World Touring car and World Motocross events. There are also plans to include a technology park, international karting track and a motorsport academy. In addition it is estimated that the total cost of the project will be £280 million and will cover 830 acres in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, and will provide thousands of jobs for the local area.

“This is credit to everyone who has been involved in the last four years really, that the project has an approval. There are still quite a few months work with some smaller details that need to be sorted, like with the land and extinguishing common rights, which can take a while. But we can crack on, and then once the legal document is finalized we can sort out contracts with constructors and promoters, but now it is full steam ahead,” said Chris Herring, consultant of the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, who are behind the plans for the circuit.

“In a perfect world we would like to start work at the end of the year, for the view of finishing in July 2015. Dorna’s attitude is great, and they are behind the Circuit of Wales, and there is plenty of enthusiasm about it.

“I think it is good news for motorcycle sport, as well as Motorsport. As we have a real focus on motorcycle sport, in terms of motocross and in-door dirt tracks and we have a real focus on the young and the academy side of things. For my own personal opinion, and the reason that I am involved is that it is something that I have wanted to see for a number of years.”