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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

sales. It was Intended that the structure would be capable of various subdivisions to suit
the changing needs of the shopkeepers.

The Town centre - The Legacy…..

The Kingfisher Centre, was largely financed by private funds, and when opened in the
1970s, was one of the Midland’s largest covered shopping centres, with leading chain
stores such as British Home Stores, Marks and Spencer, Tescos, Sainsburys and Owen
Owen.

In 2014 it has over 130 retail units, an average weekly footfall of 185,000, 965,000
residents in immediate catchment area who on average visit 2.5 times per week.
Five multi-storey car parks provide a total of 2,810 spaces in the Town Centre linked
directly with the shopping malls, and the bus and railway stations are adjacent to the
complex.
In 2012 it was bought by Capital & Regional and Oaktree Capital Management for a price
in the region of £130 million. Capital & Regional and Oaktree Capital Management are a
specialist retail property company already running a shopping centre in Lincoln as well
as others under The Mall brand in Luton, Blackburn, Norwich and London. It also owns
four of The Junction branded retail parks across the country and 22 hypermarkets, DIY
and furniture stores and 27 other properties in Germany.

The Redditch Ringway provides access to most parts of the town centre although its
signage is often criticised. Many see the Ringway as a “Concrete Collar” dividing the town
centre from the rest of the town and questions are constantly raised about road signage
leading to the claim Redditch is hard to navigate.

The remaining areas of older Redditch in Unicorn Hill, Church Green, Market Place and
Alcester Street still provide retail and commercial properties although like many towns,
are dominated by charity shops, cash outlets and estate agents.

Most office accommodation in
Redditch is situated in and
around the town centre. Offices
include Cannon Newton House,
Kingfisher House, St.
Stephen's, Grosvenor, Royal
and Threadneedle Houses,
although the latter has
remained empty for many
years since government offices
moved out.

The first floor would be
available for sales and/or
storage to suit the
requirements of the
shopkeeper.
The market would be moved
nearer to the main shops to a

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