DIGGERS will move in to start work on a £20 million development on contaminated land in Redditch a week on Monday.

After years of uncertainty, the former Alcad factory site will be transformed to include a mosque, about 50 affordable one and two-bedroom homes and a B&Q superstore.

The project, which was referred to the Secretary of State because of its sheer size, is expected to create up to 300 jobs and will take 12 months to complete.

The Smallwood site is being created by Parkridge Developments and managing director Philip O'Callaghan said the firm was delighted to be able to finally start.

He said: "An exhibition we had at the town hall to show residents the plans went very well and everybody was keen to see the old factory site redeveloped.

"We have a programme drawn up.

''We plan to spend the first six months cleaning the site up and taking away the contamination from the ground. The next six months will be spent actually building the development."

At one time, plans for the 15- acre site, which closed as a factory in 1992, included shops, a drive-through restaurant, a pub and a supermarket.

Final detailed plans were given the go-ahead by Redditch councillors this month.