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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

The Town Centre Vision - Shopping

The replacement of the existing shops
with new shops accessed from
covered, air-conditioned malls.

Whilst retaining some of the existing
old shops, the majority would
gradually be replaced by new
premises. The design would encourage
shoppers to circulate through the
shopping area so that they passed the
majority of shop fronts. Arcades and
large shops with entrances at both
ends would give opportunities for
shorter journeys. Shopping frontages
would not be diluted by non-retail
buildings.
The shopping and service trades floor
space would be increased from
176,000 sq. ft. up to some 500,000
sq. ft. by 1981 to meet the demand
likely to be created by the larger
population.

Shops would be attractive with a wide
range of goods, plus convenient car
parking to attract additional people
from outside the New Town.

Individual shops or groups of shops
would be located to serve the differing requirements of the various retail trades, creating
areas of primary and secondary rent levels. This aspect was particularly important in view
of the Corporation's obligations towards existing traders displaced by redevelopment.

A two-level development was proposed where access could be gained directly from an
adjoining multi-storey car park. The upper level shops would be mainly for "service trades"
(e.g. dry cleaner, boot repairer, betting office), which would complement rather than
compete with the ground-floor shops.

It was intended to provide protection from the weather between the car parks and the
shops.

Where the shopper would negotiate a change In level, lifts or ramps to accommodate
prams, trolleys and wheel chairs would be provided.
Apart from bus stops at the edges of the shopping area, the bus station would be the
focal point for the journey home. Nearly all bus routes would pass through the bus station
where the upper level concourse would provide comfortable waiting areas. Access between
the bus station and the shopping area would be by means of escalators and lifts enclosed
within the main building.

There would be direct service access to all shops. On the edge of the shopping area this
could be done at ground or basement level, but the central shopping block would have a
first-floor service road, and the whole of the ground floor would be available for retail

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