Tata Steel's bid to build a £1.25bn electric arc furnace at its Port Talbot steelworks has been given the go-ahead by planners. Neath Port Talbot planning committee approved the company’s plans to begin construction in the summer, with the furnace expected to be operational by early 2028.

Tata Steel's application was given the go-ahead on Tuesday morning at a meeting of Neath Port Talbot Council's planning committee. The company closed both of its blast furnaces last year and said they would be replaced by an electric arc furnace, as part of its transition to greener production methods.