25 jobs to be created by West Bromwich abattoir plan

The scheme at the old Firkins factory, in Black Lake, would also create 25 new jobs in the area.

Proposals have now been lodged with Sandwell Council for the development and will be discussed by planning chiefs at a later date.

Under the scheme, the abattoir would be based in the front section of the old bakery building.

The plan also outlines a large staff car park suitable for up to 30 employees to prevent staff members being forced to park on surrounding roads.

Access to the site will be off Black Lake and on to a service road.

There will also be disabled facilities on site which will be fully accessible to the shop and office areas.

Rest and changing facilities for staff also form part of the plans.

The rest of the site will remain empty.

The former bakery closed in May 2011 following its liquidation and leading to the loss of around 45 jobs.

It has stood empty since then.

Despite efforts there have been no other plans submitted for the redevelopment of the site.

Firkins maintained more than 30 shops after the West Bromwich site closed.

A report to the council from DNA Group, the agent for the developer, said the proposed development was suitable for the site and would be of benefit to the area.

It says: "The application proposes an entirely appropriate use of the industrial building, formally the Firkins Bakery, bringing this damaged building back into a viable use.

"The proposal will cause no harm to the residential amenity by way of noise or odour.

"The proposals are for a viable business to use a large vacant building helping the local economy and creating a number of jobs for local people."

The closure of the former bakery sparked controversy when some workers were left with a wages backlog, with some owned more than £15,000 including redundancies.

Firkins maintained more than 30 shops following the closure of the West Bromwich site.