Food factory may dish out up to 30 jobs

Plans for a £1.5 million new Black Country food factory have been unveiled, bringing up to 30 new jobs.

Scheff Foods is planning to open the plant at Hawthorns Business Park, based in West Bromwich. The factory, which will produce frozen and pastry foods, will be built on the site of a former window factory, near West Bromwich Albion’s football ground.

The project in Halfords Lane is due to be up and running by this autumn.

Stourbridge-based construction firm Mansells has been awarded the contract, which is said to be worth around £1.5 million.

Currently based in Tysley, Birmingham, around 90 people will be employed by the firm. Managing director Mohan Chauhan said he expected around 20 to 30 new jobs to be created.

Councillor Ann Jaron, chairman of the Sandwell Council planning committee, has said the new plant was the kind of “clean” industry she wanted to see more of in the borough.

“Any increase in manufacturing in this area is to be welcomed,” she said.

“This will be good quality industry using nice clean technology. There were some concerns about smells from the factory affecting a clothing manufacturer next door, but we believe a modern filtration system will prevent this.

“Things still need to be made, and there are many people in this area who have the skills that can be adapted for use in this industry. This is exactly the sort of thing we want to see in the area,” said the councillor.

She added that the planning committee had harboured concerns about parking at the site before they approved the plans.

“We want to make sure a green transport plan, including the options of Metro, bus and cycling is put together and promoted to staff,” she said.

Highways bosses had raised concerns about the amount of parking planned for the site as only 22 spaces were earmarked.

By Richard Williams