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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Sewage - A Limiting Factor

A limiting factor on the expansion of Redditch New Town was that the existing sewage
works at Ipsley overloaded. Limited development could be started at Greenlands but
the need for increased capacity was recognised very early on.

Early completion of these new works and sewers had been recognised from the beginning
as the key to housing, industrial, indeed all, development, in Redditch. The public inquiry
into the proposals was held on 1st-3rd February, 1967. The programme of development
envisaged - perhaps optimistically - an inquiry in July-August, 1966, followed by a
decision in October-November, 1966. The Corporation development programme had to
be revised.
In 1967 an application was made for planning approval and authority, under Section
34 of the New Towns Act, 1965, to build a new sewage works at Spernall in Warwickshire
to serve the River Arrow drainage area and ultimately to replace the overloaded Ipsley
works of the Redditch Urban District Council.
By 1968 the access road to the site of the new sewage disposal works at Spernal had
been completed. Construction of the new sewage works was started and a contract was
placed for the first phase of the main outfall sewer connecting the works with Redditch.
Negotiations were also held with the Alcester R.D.C. for extending services to parts of
their district.

Spernal Ash sewage works serving Redditch is actually across the border in Warwickshire.

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