New £27 million Oldbury factory starting to take shape

These new pictures show work is progressing well on the Steel & Alloy Processing site in Popes Lane, Oldbury.

The site will house a state-of-the-art steel processing equipment and create 50 jobs for the firm, which has its main site in West Bromwich.

The land was formerly Albright High School until 1983 and was previously owned by Sandwell Council.

Steel & Alloy Processing has its headquarters in West Bromwich and also has sites in Darlaston, Cannock and Smethwick, counting the likes of Jaguar, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo among its customers.

Halesowen-based A&H Construction is carrying out work on the building which is due to be ready in November.

Oldbury ward councillor Susan Downing said: "It'll bring a lot of jobs to the area which we must embrace because jobs are really needed in the borough.

"However, it seems a lot bigger than people expected.

"It's good to have a new company come to Oldbury."

When worked started on the site back in February, Mark Cooper, managing director of Steel & Alloy Processing, said: "Our main facility in West Bromwich is at full capacity and this significant investment demonstrates the confidence that our parent company, Gonvarri Steel Services, has in the UK business.

"It will allow us to develop new processing technologies and materials to meet the ever increasing demands of the UK automotive industry and secure the company's position as the leader in the field.

"It is great to have found a new site so close to our existing operations and we are grateful to both the council and the Department for International Trade for their support in getting us to this stage."

The Black Country LEP supported the project using the Growth Deal investing £54,000 in site investigations for the Popes Lane site.

The new factory in Oldbury will eventually create around 150 jobs with another 100 workers expected to join the firm over the next two phases of the expansion.

Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling said previously: “It is encouraging to see significant investment from Steel & Alloy coming into Sandwell.

“The borough offers businesses wishing to expand and grow a chance to move to an area at the forefront of cutting edge manufacturing with established supply chains and a highly skilled workforce.

“The investment and new jobs being created by Steel & Alloy Ltd are very welcome and is further demonstration of Sandwell and the Black Country being at the heart of UK manufacturing.”