Plans have been lodged as part of a long-running project to breathe new life into a former industrial site in the Black Country.

Developer HBD has submitted a reserved matters planning application for the second phase of 'Spark', the developer's £188 million manufacturing and logistics scheme in Walsall.

Subject to securing consent, the second phase will provide three units ranging from 24,300 sq ft to 39,000 sq ft.

Construction is expected to begin in January and be completed by autumn 2026.

Once complete, Spark will provide a total of 620,000 sq ft of industrial space close to junction nine of the M6 which could create around 1,100 new jobs.

The 44-acre, brownfield regeneration site was once home to the James Bridge Copper Works which housed a smelting plant but all operations there ceased in 1999 since when it has lain dormant.

HBD's managing director Ed Hutchinson said: "Work is progressing quickly at Spark with phase one on-site and expected to complete in the fourth quarter of this year.

"Supply of well-located, sustainable industrial and logistics space remains constrained within the West Midlands so it's positive to be able to deliver the scheme on a speculative basis to meet established demand."