New £50m plans for Oldbury Junction

Shops, restaurants and homes could soon be built at The Junction off Oldbury Ringway.

Proposals for the site have been in the pipeline for more than 10 years but have never come to fruition.

A £50 million scheme, covering a 34-acre site and creating 1,000 jobs, was given final approval in 2011 but the land has remained empty ever since.

Now, a fresh bid is being made for planning permission to develop part of the land.

Ward councillor Suzanne Hartwell has welcomed the news, saying: "It's been a long time coming, but hopefully this time they're able to see it through.

"This would definitely be a welcome development, and I'm all for these eyesore sites getting redeveloped and back for community use.

"All the residents who have spoken to me are all for it. Everything has been positive, there's not been anything negative said at all.

Deputy leader Councillor Steve Eling added: "Clearly this is a large site and a key route into town.

"It's an eyesore, which has been derelict for almost 20 years and it would be really good to see something go ahead on that site after so long.

"I'm quite sure everyone around there would be glad to see something positive come of this.

"If it could bring positive business to the council economy as well then that would also be a plus.

"Various proposals have come forward but never materialised. This could be the final piece in the town's jigsaw."

Originally, the plans were for a £30m development on a 16-acre site, but this was later expanded to a 34-acre project which would have cost up to £50m to develop.

The documents suggest the new scheme would cover an area of around 12 acres.

The site was due to transform the town with new shops and restaurants and create more than 1,000 new jobs, with permission initially granted in November 2004.

In May 2007, July 2009 and then 2011 Sandwell Council granted approval to amendments - but the scheme has never come to fruition.