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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Open Spaces & the Environment - The Vision…..

In order to ensure that the existing landscape was properly integrated with the New Town,
and it could withstand the physical upheaval that was associated with building it, it was
decided that key features should be preserved without loss of their inherent character.
Features of less importance would be changed or removed where development
necessitated it.
Competing demands were resolved in such a way as to enable as many landscape features
as possible to be exploited in the design of the town. The addition of new landscape needs
were created carefully in relation to the existing landscape to achieve unity and a scale
consistent with the major changes of land use. The earthmoving operations arising from
the construction works provided the principal landscape opportunities, particularly when
associated with the large and carefully phased programme of tree planting.

Therefore, from consideration of the topography of the site, it was decided development
should follow four principles:
The existing visual boundaries should be strengthened and extended to create a network
of open space on the generally higher ground between the separate units of the town.
This will involve the introduction of major landscape elements such as planting or ground
modelling where the edges are weak or inconclusive.

The existing public footpath network following the higher ground might be developed and
extended along these edges.
The density of housing development in each area should take into account the incidence
of mature trees and hedgerows and the formation of the ground so that these features
may be assimilated. In some instances this will suggest relatively low building densities,
predominately low and horizontal buildings and an interpenetration of built and landscape
elements.

The majority of the bare grass crests bounding these contained areas should be kept clear
of all buildings. Where hedges or trees occur on these boundaries they should be preserved.
“No new town can be developed in such a landscape without change, but by a rigorous
policy of respect for landscape character and by active conservation, the impact can be
balanced with the requirements of nature.
The implementation of this aim involves the practice of exuberant native or indigenous
planting, the preservation of major structural vegetation and traditional buildings, the
retention and use of water in all its modified forms and the massive use of ground
modelling to achieve spatial definition.
The techniques of new woodland planting, rough roadside hinterland, large scale screen
planting zones, and retention of mature vegetation have all been employed to gain the
maximum possibilities for the coexistence of all living creatures.
Because of the success of this down to earth approach to the landscaping of the town,
the otherwise bare and sterile blanket of development has been improved and softened,
making Redditch New Town an extremely satisfying place in which to live, work and play.”

Photos & words from a RDC publication

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