The all-weather facility at Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire would create 110 permanent and 150 seasonal jobs.

It will produce tremendous spin off economic benefits for the whole region

Mark James

Carmarthenshire council is negotiating with the Midlands Safari Park for the development which will include the first aquarium of its kind in Wales.

The council has approved an 18 month 'lock out' agreement with the park to continue with the plans which will also involve a holiday village and leisure facilities.

Detailed proposals and full agreement should then be reached before the end of that period.

If the project goes ahead work is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

Planners say it will blend in with the current character and facilities at the country park and provide direct access to Cefn Sidan beach and Pembrey forest.

Mark James: Development will be a huge economic boost for the area

The aquarium will incorporate an educational facility for schools and colleges to be involved in marine and aquatic research.

An anticipated extra one million visitors would join the 500,000 who currently visit the park each year.

Regeneration executive board member Huw John said: "It is a tremendous boost for Carmarthenshire and will bring not just jobs, but social facilities which will benefit our young people in particular and encourage them to stay in the county."

Mark James, Chief Executive of Carmarthenshire Council, said: "The aquarium in particular will be a national standard facility.

Tourist destination

"This whole project fits in with what we are trying to do for Carmarthenshire to create more jobs and provide a wonderful all year leisure facility.

"It will produce tremendous spin off economic benefits for the whole region."

A spokesman for West Midlands Safari Park said they were also very excited by the development.

Last week it was announced that a grant package worth more than £16m has been pledged to a tourism village project a few miles further west from Pembrey.

The Bluestones adventure park scheme in Pembrokeshire ims to make the county a world class, all-year-round tourist destination, and promises 600 jobs.