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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

The Town Centre - The Key Decision

One of the major decisions the Development Corporation faced revolved around the town
centre.

Should they build a “New” town centre away from the existing town centre or should they
re-develop the existing one?

If they chose the former, thus retaining the old town streets and shops, the two centres
would compete. If they chose the latter much of the old town centre would need to be
lost to new development.

A survey of the existing town was undertaken and the findings showed that large areas
of the old town was to a low standard and in poor condition that without redevelopment
it would never compete with surrounding areas. Drastic action was also required to address
traffic congestion issues.

An early promotional document with a vision of the “New” Redditch.

So the decision was made to redevelop the existing town centre, a decision which was
sound economically but has been the most controversial with Redditch residents,
particularly those who knew the old town, ever since.
The loss of the “local” shops in Evesham Street was equated with loss of the “Character”
of the old town with expressions like “Ripping the heart out of the town” often being used.
However, it is hard to imagine the state of the “old town” 50 years-on without
major investment and what effect the growth in neighbouring towns would
have had on “Old” Redditch.

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