Page 7 - RNT-C01

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Redditch New Town - Attempt 2 - 1948

In 1948, Patrick Abercrombie, Lionel Brett and Frederick Hill prepared the “Brett Plan”
which proposed the population to grow during the period 1947 to 1972 to 50 - 62,000.

The “Brett Plan” was presented to the Redditch UDC in 1948 proposing:
The population was limited to 35,000 following projections for population growth for
the whole of the West Midlands.
It proposed a mixed industry to satisfy the population with a good local and regional
communications system.

Limit any further growth to the east of the River Arrow which regional planners felt
undesirable and favoured in-filling the ribbon development along the ridge – Headless
Cross to Crabbs Cross and along the Studley Road.

It also proposed a covered shopping centre and new Council Offices.
The people of Redditch liked the idea of the scheme but the UDC rejected it.

Was the writing on the wall for Redditch?

Irrespective of the set-backs in plans to develop Redditch as a “New Town”, with
hindsight we can now see that this was a crucial time for the town.
The following factors were coming into play and had not the designation been made,
the Redditch of today could have been a much different place.

● The loss of traditional industries

● Slum Clearance by the UDC

● Axing of Rail services

● 1970s traffic congestion

● Decline of Town centre facilities

● Inconsistent housing expansion
● The sewage disposal system had limited capacity

P
Page: 19age: 19