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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Housing and Jobs - The Vision

Although the fundamental objective of creating a New Town at Redditch was overspill
housing from the Birmingham conurbation an inviolate principle laid down from the outset
was to balance housing growth with employment. The considerations in planning this
employment growth were based on the following factors:
● On the basis that houses and jobs would be in balance and assuming that 45% of the
additional 60,000 population would require employment, 27,000 more jobs would be needed
of which 16,200 would be in manufacturing industry and up to 20,250 in industrial areas.

● Redditch had very distinct employment characteristics. It was in the unique starting position
for a new town of having a strong manufacturing base and was well placed to share in the
future growth of the West Midlands economy in attracting factory investment from the
Birmingham conurbation. It already had a labour shortage which may have had complex
effects on the perception of people and work.

● Redditch had particular specialisms within the metal-working industries based upon the
historic trades of needle-making, fish-hooks and springs. Its markets ranged from local West
Midlands to obvious centres of the motor and aircraft industries as well as serving all parts
of the United Kingdom and overseas exports. Supplies came mainly from the Midlands but
also included items such as Sheffield steel. An often repeated need voiced by local industrialists
was the importance of improved national communications.

● The economically active population of 18,400 (1961 Census) represented a very high proportion
of 53.8% of the population due mainly to a rate of 37.2% for females, a fifth higher than the
national figure. This was due to the suitability of local industry for female workers and the
provision of a large element of part-time work and also of outworking at home.

● Of all employment in the area, 66% was in manufacturing industry compared with 53% in the
region and 38% in Great Britain. The metal industries with 60% formed an even bigger group
than in the West Midlands as a whole.

● It was considered that 60% of the additional working population would require employment
in manufacturing industries, most of the remainder being in service industry. Provision should
also be made for 15% working in the types of service trades which are appropriate to industrial
areas: construction, wholesale distribution, laundries, etc.

● New industrial employment in Redditch was predicted to come from:

1. Expansion of existing industries which would make a major contribution up to 1971.

2. Industries from the Birmingham conurbation relocating to Redditch.

3. Industry from other parts of Great Britain or overseas being attracted to the town.

● The Development Corporation argued that local employment growth over recent years had
been twice that in the region, with strong growth in all parts of the metal industries except
vehicles and an important increase in service employment. The amount of vulnerable or
declining industries was small and with the then labour needs, the area was better fitted than

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