£20 million factory scheme next to M6 in Wednesbury is unveiled

Up to three units suitable for warehousing or industrial use could be created on space off Axletree Way, close to the Ikea store.

A £4m project to clear the site has already begun and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

After this, development company Opus Land, which is working with property investor St Francis Group on the scheme, will look for firms to move onto the site.

"It's a brilliant boost for Wednesbury," said Opus Land managing director Richard Smith.

"It's massive. It will be one of the most important sites in Wednesbury, if not the Black Country."

Mr Smith said the number of factories built at the site and the specifications of the buildings would be dictated by the occupiers' needs.

"We do the ground work, then try to attract occupiers, then we do the buildings," he said.

"You used to build these sort of developments speculatively but, because of the economic climate the way it is at the moment, we can't do that any more.

"You have to close-end the deal before you put in the investment."

The factory development will be just a stones throw away from Storagebase's self-storage facility, which is currently being built.

The plans for the seven-storey red white and grey building on the Opus Blueprint site initially came under fire from residents, who likened the building to a Rubik's cube.

But Mr Smith said discontent had mellowed since planning permission was obtained. He said he expected the building will be completed by the end of the year.

"Everything has gone to plan," he said.

"It's an exciting building.

"There were some people who were unhappy at the start but it died down within a week or two."

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell's neighbourhoods boss, said the scheme was good news for the borough.

"I welcome any development of this land in the current climate," he said.