The brewery could create up to 30 jobs

Plans have been drawn-up for the development at the former council highways depot in Llandeilo which would create up to 30 jobs.

As well as producing traditional cask ales, the long-term vision for the brewery includes a visitor centre where visitors can see exactly how the beers are made.

Businessman Simon Buckley, who founded the Tomos Watkin micro-brewery at Llandeilo's Castle Hotel in the mid 1990s, is behind the venture.

A full planning application has been submitted to Carmarthenshire Council for the town centre site.

We are trying to attract visitors and this is the sort of business that could help Councillor Ieuan Jones

Carmarthenshire councillor for Llandeilo Ieuan Jones has welcomed the development after seeing architect's drawings of what is planned.

"It will help with the regeneration of the town," he said.

"I have seen the drawings of what is proposed to go there and they are very pleasing.

"The town council is very anxious to do something about that corner of the town."

Expansion

The first phase of the development would see the conversion of existing buildings at the depot for brewing, together with landscaping work.

The site has been empty for more than a year after the council's highways service was centralised in Glanaman.

Phase two and three include a visitor centre and a pub.

"We are increasingly looking towards tourism," said Cllr Jones.

"This area is being marketed as the Garden of Wales with Dinefwr Park, the Brecon Beacons, Aberglasney and the National Botanic Gardens.

"We are trying to attract visitors and this is the sort of business that could help."

Mr Buckley is a descendent of the family which first established the Crown Buckley brewery in Llanelli, one of the first commercial breweries in Wales.

It was bought by Cardiff-based S A Brain in the 1990s.

In 2000 Mr Buckley launched an unsuccessful �68m bid for Brains but later in the year he oversaw the expansion of Tomos Watkin to a new site in Swansea.

He later left the company which was bought last year by the Hurns Brewing Company in the city.