Hundreds of new jobs will be created in the Black Country after a £15 million casino, hotel and office development was approved.

The scheme will transform vacant land near the Birchley Island in Oldbury, bringing 300 jobs.

Members of Sandwell Council’s planning committee gave the go ahead for the project, on a triangle of land to the south of the traffic island, at a meeting last night.

Developer St Modwen is behind the scheme while Grosvenor Casino is expected to take over the casino. Jobs would be created during construction as well as when the casino, hotel and offices open for business on the gateway site into Sandwell.

Oldbury councillor and the council’s cabinet member for improvement and efficiency Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: “I am really pleased. It is another way we are improving a major gateway to Sandwell.”