Public consultation for redevelopment of Redditch district centres

Matchborough and Winyates district centres were built just 800m apart during the ‘new town’ expansion of Redditch and now the borough council is consulting on a raft of concept proposals for the two areas.

Last year, Redditch missed out on £20m of Levelling Up funding from the government to regenerate Matchborough and Winyates despite being placed in the government’s top priority category.

Winyates District Centre. (Image: Redditch Borough Council.)

However, the results of the consultation will help inform future funding bids.

It is proposed that a new district centre is built in Winyates in the northern part of the site to contain retail, community and health centre uses.

A new NHS facility is also shown on the plans and the council says discussions are ongoing with the NHS, but it is ‘dependent on priorities for wider health provision across the county’.

Existing bus routes would be retained and a new east to west green link to encourage walking and cycling along with parking located to the north east and south east of the centre will be created.

Proposals for Winyates. (Image: Redditch Borough Council.)

In the district centre it is proposed there is a newsagent, mobility shop, hairdresser, coffee shop, takeaway and convenience store along with a playgroup and community services.

It is also proposed the new district centre site will include 21 one-bed apartments, 19 two-bed apartments and 18 three-bedroom homes.

The council say at this stage the proposals are ‘conceptual ideas’ and if funding is successful detailed plans will be drawn up.

Matchborough District Centre. (Image: RBC)

Over in Matchborough, it is proposed the district centre uses are consolidated into one new building which could include a charity shop, takeaway and a convenience store.

To the south of the centre, it is proposed to build a two-storey apartment building, as well as multi-use spaces and play space.

Bus routes will be retained along with the northern parking area.

The new district centre could include six one-bed apartments and ten two-bedroom houses/apartments.

There are also plans for a new housing estate north of the district centre next to Arrow Vale School’s Astroturf pitch.

Proposals for Matchborough. (Image: Redditch Borough Council.)

The estate could include 12 one-bedroom apartments, 38 two-bedroom houses/apartments, 25 three-bedroom homes and 13 four-bedroom homes.

Cllr Matt Dormer, leader of Redditch Borough Council said: “Securing regeneration funding to revitalise these two centres is an ongoing priority for the council.

“That needs well-informed proposals firmly in the pipeline and then, when the funding opportunities come up, we’re ready.

“Understanding what people think about the proposals for each district centre is a vital part of that, and I hope lots of people will look at these concepts and give the council their views.

“Of course, at this stage these are not firm plans – that would come later and be refined by people’s feedback throughout the process.”

Public consultation events are being held in both centres on Thursday, August 10. n at Christ Church Centre, Matchborough, from 9am until 2pm, and at Winyates Shopping Centre, Unit 12 from 2.30pm until 7pm.

To access the consultation visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk/consultations before the closing date of August 27.