Hundreds of new jobs in pipeline if plan for commercial units on former Walsall landfill site is given go-ahead

Total Developments NW wants to take over the old Beatwaste land on Bentley Lane for a scheme that will build three large units totalling 39,202 sqm of employment floorspace.

The site was previously used for landfill but the applicants said it was now of poor value and suffered from incidents including fly-tipping and debris being left strewn on there.

Last year, a first hurdle for the proposed scheme was cleared when Walsall Council planning officers confirmed an assessment of the potential impact the scheme would have on the environment was not needed.

As well as the three commercial units, the proposal includes creating 423 parking spaces including 63 electric parking bays.

Walsall Council planning officers are expected to make a decision on this full planning application by March.

In an economic benefits statement, the applicants said the development could see between 423-695 gross full time equivalent jobs created, generating between £14.2 million and £39.3 million per year.

They added 340 jobs would also be created during the 15-month construction phase.

They said: “The applicant’s vision for the site is to create a high quality, sustainable location of composite commercial uses.

“Importantly, it is clear that the proposed development at Bentley Lane will not just deliver a higher quantity of jobs on-site, but the overall employment effect will be a diverse spectrum of occupational prospects across a wide skill set.

“Socio-economic evidence within this report has highlighted that employment opportunities created by the proposed development will provide the ability to support the existing resident workforce and also transfer skills in line with an advancing industry.

“It is evident that the logistics sector provides competitive and sustainable employment prospects, supplying a variety of access points at different skill levels.

“The resulting effect of this is the provision of good quality jobs across Walsall.

“The proposed development presents an opportunity to improve the inconsistency in economic activity rates within the local area.

“The proposed development will deliver a variation of job opportunities on site, and this may act as a catalyst to develop local economic activity levels in line with the wider LA.

“(It) will supply much needed floorspace to a suppressed market and aligns strongly with strategic and local economic growth targets.”