A decision on whether to give the go-ahead to a £380 million super hospital in Smethwick has been postponed to allow environmental investigations to be carried out.

Sandwell Council’s planning committee had been due to discuss the plans for a 700-bed hospital on a 16.8 acre site at the former GKN factory site off Grove Lane,  last night.

But the application was put back to a later date to allow health bosses to complete further work requested by the Environment Agency. 

The agency has objected to the flood risk assessment that has been undertaken and requested further analysis and survey work on highways, sewers and surface water drainage. 

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHSk Trust, which is behind the application, has now written to the Environment Agency proposing what it intends to do and it has said such works would be acceptable. 

But until they are completed, the Environment Agency will maintain its objection.