Bridgend, is located just south of the M4, equidistant between Swansea and Cardiff. It has a resident urban population of 145,000 and a population catchment of 687,879 within a 30-minute drive time. Bridgend benefits from excellent road connectivity and is situated immediately south
of junctions 35 to 37 of the M4 Motorway. It benefits from improved rail services following recent upgrades and electrification to the rail line. Cardiff can be accessed in 18 minutes. Bridgend forms a key part of the Cardiff Capital Region, which is a £1.28 billion collaborative initiative between 10 Local Authorities aimed to increase connectivity, physical and digital infrastructure and deliver 25,000 new jobs. Cardiff International Airport is located 16 miles south east of Bridgend and provides direct flights to a wide array of global destinations. South Wales also has significant shipping infrastructure. Associated British Ports have ports in Swansea, Port Talbot, Barry, Newport and Cardiff, which collectively handle more than 12 million tonnes of cargo per annum. Milford Haven, to the west of Newport, is the 3rd largest port in the UK and the largest energy port, handling over 30 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
