Express & Star

Controversial energy plant overlooking M5 in West Bromwich put 'on hold'

A controversial bid to build a huge energy facility overlooking the M5 has been put on hold while council bosses find out more information about the plans.

Published
The proposed facility

A planning application has been submitted to Sandwell Council for a 10,000sq m energy recovery facility at Giffards Recycling, off Kelvin Way, in West Bromwich.

The plans have attracted strong opposition with 450 people signing a petition demanding for them to be blocked.

Sandwell's planning committee deferred the application at the latest meeting to get more information around traffic flows and highway issues.

Councillor Bob Piper, a committee member, said the data around traffic movements was from 2014 and the panel wanted more up to date figures.

The proposed facility would convert 400,000 tons of waste into electricity a year.

Existing buildings on the site would be bulldozed to make way for the energy plant.

Designs for the facility show a huge metallic factory towering over the M5.