End of an era as Hoover factory to be demolished

A deal has been agreed to demolish the iconic Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil, marking the end of an era for the town.

The 40-acre (16 hectares) site that dominates Merthyr's southern gateway is set to be redeveloped for housing.

At its peak the factory, which opened in 1948, employed 5,000 people making washing machines but production came to an end in 2009 with the loss of more than 300 staff.

In a statement Hoover thanked the town "for being an irreplaceable and unforgettable part of our journey".

For the past 16 years, Hoover, which is now owned by the Chinese multinational Haier, has used the factory as a distribution base but announced last year it was closing down, with the loss of the remaining 45 jobs.

The new deal will result in the demolition of what is one of the last remaining post-war legacy factories left in the south Wales valleys.

The civil engineering company Walters Group has agreed to buy the factory subject to the approval of planning permission later this year, which is expected as the site has already been earmarked for housing.

It plans to start demolition next year with the aim of selling the site on for the construction of more than 400 homes by the end of 2026.

The American owners of Hoover set up in Merthyr Tydfil in what was one of the big foreign inward investment projects into the British economy soon after the end of World War Two.

Some 350 people were employed initially but it grew to more than 5,000 during the 1960s and 1970s alongside the growth of the market for white goods.

As the biggest employer in Merthyr, the production of Hoover washing machines became a synonymous and much-loved part of the fabric of the town, employing generations of families and laying on community events and sports facilities.

One colourful chapter in the plant's history was the ill-fated production of the Sinclair C5, a tiny, electrically powered tricycle-like vehicle, in 1985.

Sir Clive Sinclair's experiment in personal transport only lasted a few months before assembly of the C5s in Merthyr came to an end.

It again hit the headlines in 1992 as a result of a notorious marketing promotion.

Hoover launched a disastrous free flights offer for customers buying a product worth more than £100 but it could not meet the huge demand and faced a multi-million pound pay out after facing legal action.

There was significant anger locally in 2009 when the decision was made by the then-Italian parent company Candy to move production to Turkey but it insisted it had no choice because of the losses it had been making on appliances made in Merthyr.

A statement from Hoover said: "Our Merthyr Tydfil washing machine factory was more than just a production site it was a symbol of dedication, excellence and community, and we are grateful to everyone who was part of that achievement.

"We want to express our deepest thanks to every team member past and present, and to the broader Merthyr community.

"You are, and always will be, a vital part of our history and identity.

"Your legacy is woven into every step forward we take, and your contributions will continue to inspire and define who we are.

"We are committed to working closely with all affected employees and community leaders to provide through this transition.

"Thank you, Merthyr, for being an irreplaceable and unforgettable part of our journey."