PLANS to regenerate Redditch town centre have been green lit by the borough council's executive committee.

In September 2019 it was announced that Redditch was among 101 towns that would be invited to put forward town deal plans to secure up to £25m in central government funding to help economic growth and regeneration.

The Town Investment Plan (TIP), put together by Redditch Borough Council, is required to focus on the three key themes, including urban regeneration, skills and enterprise infrastructure, and connectivity, both transport and digital.

One of the proposed TIP projects is set to transform Redditch’s railway quarter, introducing an integrated multi-modal transport interchange to act as a modern gateway to the town centre. The council is asking for £8.5million to help fund the project.

Plans include a new two-storey station building straddling the line and supporting passengers to access two platforms and both sides of Unicorn Hill. The building will also house improved amenities.

There is a plan to redevelop the existing town centre library site, and the council is asking for £4.13million to carry out the project. A proposed public square would then be built on the site to help drive footfall to and from the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.

Redditch Advertiser: The library in Redditch town centre The library in Redditch town centre

Redditch Borough Council leader Matt Dormer told the Advertiser: “The plan is to move the library and put it in the Town Hall. The library site will then be available for development and regeneration.

“The library function will not be removed for Redditch. It’s not going anywhere, it’s too useful for many people.”

Another £8million project has been outlined to develop a Redditch Digital Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, which is hoped to support entrepreneurs and companies that want to test 5G enabled services.

The council also hopes to upgrade Church Green, Evesham Walk, Unicorn Hill and the buildings within the historic centre in a £3million project, and introduce a Sustainable Projects Programme, encouraging low carbon travel and installing charging points for electric vehicles in a £1.1million project.

The bid will go to a full council meeting on Monday for final approval. 

Councillor Dormer said: “We have got to improve our offering all around. I want what's best for the people of Redditch. 

"It is all about unlocking Redditch and helping us realise our potential."