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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

The RDC View

In the final Annual Report of the Redditch Development Corporation in 1985, the following
summary of their work was offered.

Redditch Development Corporation was charged with developing Redditch as a town
capable of taking a population of about 70,000 by about 1980. This goal was substantially
achieved despite the adverse economic climate of the 1970s and the substantially smaller
family size. The Designated Area now accommodates a population of over 70,000.
The town retains and develops its self-containment and independence from Birmingham
and the commuting patterns forecast in the Master Plan have proved accurate.
Emphasis has always been placed in developing a balanced community in both social and
physical terms and the Corporation believes that in these it has been exceptionally
successful.

Redditch first evolved under the unitary authority of the Cistercian Order which laid the
foundation of the town at Bordesley Abbey. The Corporation has played a catalytic part
in the archaeological work related to the researches into that era.

The industrial heritage on which the town's growth and prosperity blossomed in the 18th
and 19th century is well documented through the history of the independent needle
manufacturers. The Corporation has been instrumental in establishing the National Needle
Museum, based on the last working water driven needle mill.

Further significant growth occurred in the form of migration of industry and population
during the era of two World Wars. Much of the early work of the Corporation was spent
in coping with the decline and extinction of these firms, in particular the demise of the
Royal Enfield Works shortly after the designation of the New Town. A firm resolve to save
the rail link during the days of the Beeching axe also taxed our early initiatives.
The Town is thus well used to periodic changes of great magnitude and the built fabric
reflects the changes which have occurred.

It is with that background that we came to repeat the cycle. Buildings and infrastructure.
the heritage of the Industrial Revolution, much outworn and outdated, have now been
cleared or improved.

Despite the early restrictions of Industrial Development Certificates and Office
Development Permits and the constraints imposed on attracting firms from outside the
region the Corporation has nevertheless promoted the advantages of Redditch abroad.
These endeavours have succeeded in attracting foreign firms to the town though the
number of firms migrating from the southern quadrant of Birmingham still predominate.
The high incidence of entirely new firms and the growth of local firms suggest the
significance of opportunities which have arisen from the presence in the town of the
Corporation. Nevertheless, an assessment of the growth at Redditch has shown that this
has been achieved with an insignificant effect on Birmingham and its Inner Areas.

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