Redditch

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Town in Worcestershire, England

title: "Redditch" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["redditch", "towns-in-worcestershire", "planned-communities-in-england", "non-metropolitan-districts-of-worcestershire", "radburn-design-housing-estates", "planned-communities-established-in-the-1960s", "populated-places-established-in-1964", "boroughs-in-england", "former-civil-parishes-in-worcestershire"] description: "Town in Worcestershire, England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redditch" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in Worcestershire, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameRedditch
native_name
settlement_typeTown and borough
total_typeDistrict
mottoREDDITE DEO
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
perrow1/2/2
total_width280
aligncenter
image1Church_Green_East,Redditch-geograph.org.uk-_2132059.jpg
image2Parish_Church_of_St._Stephen,Church_Green-geograph.org.uk-_1953607.jpg
image3Arrow_Valley_Lake_-geograph.org.uk-_6953264.jpg
image4Forge_Mill_Needle_Museum_-geograph.org.uk-_2680812.jpg
image5Redditch_Cloverleaf.jpg
image_altMontage of Redditch landmarks including Church Green East and Arrow Valley Lake
image_caption
pushpin_mapWorcestershire
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Worcestershire
pushpin_label_positiontop
pushpin_mapsize250
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameUnited Kingdom
subdivision_type1Constituent country
subdivision_name1England
subdivision_type2Region
subdivision_name2West Midlands
subdivision_type3Ceremonial County
subdivision_name3Worcestershire
subdivision_type4District
subdivision_name4Redditch
seat_typeUK Parliament
seatRedditch
seat1_typeDistrict
seat1Redditch
government_typeNon-metropolitan district council
governing_bodyRedditch Borough Council
leader_title2MP
leader_name2Chris Bloore (Labour)
established_titleNew Town status
established_date10 April 1964
established_title1Borough status
established_date115 May 1980
area_footnotes
area_total_km2
area_rank
elevation_m130
population_as_of
population_footnotes
population_total
population_rank
population_density_km2
population_urban_footnotes
population_urban81,635
demographics_type1Ethnicity (2021)
demographics1_footnotes
demographics1_title1Ethnic groups
demographics_type2Religion (2021)
demographics2_footnotes
demographics2_title1Religion
timezoneGMT
postal_code_typePostcodes
postal_codeB96, B97, B98
postal2_code_typePost town
postal2_code
area_code_typeDialling code
area_code01527
blank1_nameONS code
blank1_info47UD (ONS)
E07000236 (GSS)
website
::

| name = Redditch | native_name = | settlement_type = Town and borough | total_type = District | motto = REDDITE DEO | translit_lang1 = | translit_lang1_type = | translit_lang1_info = | translit_lang2 = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2 | total_width = 280 | align = center | image1 = Church_Green_East,Redditch-geograph.org.uk-_2132059.jpg | image2 = Parish_Church_of_St._Stephen,Church_Green-geograph.org.uk-1953607.jpg | image3 = Arrow_Valley_Lake-geograph.org.uk-6953264.jpg | image4 = Forge_Mill_Needle_Museum-geograph.org.uk-_2680812.jpg | image5 = Redditch_Cloverleaf.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = Montage of Redditch landmarks including Church Green East and Arrow Valley Lake | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Worcestershire | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Worcestershire | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United Kingdom | subdivision_type1 = Constituent country | subdivision_name1 = England | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = West Midlands | subdivision_type3 = Ceremonial County | subdivision_name3 = Worcestershire | subdivision_type4 = District | subdivision_name4 = Redditch | seat_type = UK Parliament | seat = Redditch | seat1_type = District | seat1 = Redditch | government_footnotes = | government_type = Non-metropolitan district council | governing_body = Redditch Borough Council | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = MP | leader_name2 = Chris Bloore (Labour) | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = New Town status | established_date = 10 April 1964 | established_title1 = Borough status | established_date1 = 15 May 1980 | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | founder = | named_for = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_rank = | area_land_km2 = | area_total_dunam = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 130 | elevation_ft = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = | population_urban_footnotes = | population_urban = 81,635 | demographics_type1 = Ethnicity (2021) | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title1 = Ethnic groups | demographics1_info1 = | 89.8% White | 5.7% Asian | 2.6% Mixed | 1.2% Black | 0.6% other | demographics_type2 = Religion (2021) | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title1 = Religion | demographics2_info1 = | 48.9% Christianity | 40% no religion | 4.2% Islam | 0.4% Hinduism | 0.1% Judaism | 0.4% Sikhism | 0.2% Buddhism | 0.4% other | 5.5% not stated | timezone = GMT | postal_code_type = Postcodes | postal_code = B96, B97, B98 | postal2_code_type = Post town | postal2_code = | area_code_type = Dialling code | area_code = 01527 | blank1_name = ONS code | blank1_info = 47UD (ONS) E07000236 (GSS) | website = Redditch is a town and non-metropolitan district with borough status in Worcestershire, England. In 2021, the town had a population of 81,637 and the district had a population of 87,037. In the 1800s, it became a centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry; by the end of the century, 90% of the world's needles were manufactured in the town and its surrounding areas.

In the 1960s, it became part of the new town planning movement which included it expanding into neighbouring villages and hamlets surrounding the town. It is the second largest settlement in Worcestershire, after Worcester.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Redditch_004.jpg" caption="Commemorative pavement plaque in Alcester Street"] ::

The first recorded mention of Redditch (La Rededich, thought to be a reference to the red clay of the nearby River Arrow) is in 1348, the year of the outbreak of the Black Death. During the Middle Ages, it became a centre of needle-making and later prominent industries were fish-hooks, fishing tackle, motorcycles and springs, the last of which was notably undertaken by Herbert Terry and Sons. Redditch was designated a new town on 10 April 1964, and the population increased dramatically from 32,000 in 1964 to over 70,000 by 1984. Housing developments such as Church Hill, Matchborough, Winyates, Greenlands, and Woodrow were created to accommodate a large overspill from the industrially expanding Birmingham. Redditch was built as a "flagship" town using new methods and new town planning: all the main roads (mostly new dual carriageways as well as a ring road for the town centre) were banked to reduce noise to the new housing estates, and the whole of Redditch was landscaped. Historically, much of present-day Redditch was located within Warwickshire, but it is now in its entirety administered as a part of Worcestershire.

By the 21st century, needle-making and other traditional industries had been replaced by modern light industry and services, with Redditch also functioning as a dormitory town for Birmingham. The automotive retailer Halfords and engineering company GKN both have their headquarters in Redditch. Manufacturer of precious metal contacts, Samuel Taylor Ltd, has manufacturing plants within the town. Following the redevelopment of the flagship Kingfisher Shopping Centre in 2002, Redditch is undergoing an economic and cultural renaissance.

The town is home to several historical sites. The Forge Mill Needle Museum and the ruins of Bordesley Abbey are located in the north of the town, and the remains of a medieval moated settlement called Moons Moat are within the Church Hill estate.

Governance

Main article: Redditch Borough Council

There are two main tiers of local government covering Redditch, at district and county level: Redditch Borough Council and Worcestershire County Council. The borough council is based at Redditch Town Hall on Walter Stranz Square, which was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1982.

The borough contains just one civil parish at Feckenham, in the more rural south-western part of the borough. The rest of the borough is an unparished area.

The parliamentary constituency of Redditch is represented by Chris Bloore of the Labour Party, elected at the 2024 general election.

Geography

Redditch is south of the West Midlands urban area. It is north of Evesham on the A435, which skirts it to the east. The main access routes are the A441 via junction 2 of the M42 Motorway, the A435 from junction 3 of the M42 and the A448 via junctions 4 or 5 of the M5. The Roman Road known as Icknield Street is prominent, running north to south through the eastern side of the town.

Districts of Redditch

The Borough of Redditch is divided into several districts. To the south and east of the town are "New Town Districts" built in the 1970s and 1980s. To the west of the Borough are older "Former Village Districts" that dominate the south and west, such as Webheath and Headless Cross.

See: Districts of Redditch

Since 2011, Redditch has participated in the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership along with neighbouring authorities Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Solihull, Tamworth and Wyre Forest.

Green belt

Redditch is within a green belt region that extends into the wider surrounding counties, and is in place to reduce urban sprawl, prevent further convergence between the towns surrounding the West Midlands conurbations of Birmingham and Coventry, protect the identity of outlying communities, encourage brownfield reuse and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas, and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building.

The main urban area up to the Webheath, Walkwood, and Hunt End suburbs, Astwood Bank, and the southernmost extent of the borough are exempt from the green belt area, bar small adjacent green belt 'wedges', but surrounding smaller villages, hamlets and rural areas such as Feckenham, Littleworth, Old Yarr and Ham Green up to the B4090 Salt Way road are 'washed over' by the designation. The green belt was first drawn up under Worcestershire County Council, and the size in the borough in 2017 amounted to some 1800 ha.

Transport

The M42 motorway is a short drive away and it is linked by dual carriageways and A-class roads to surrounding towns such as Bromsgrove and Evesham. There are regular bus services to Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Studley and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Railway

Redditch railway station is one of the southern termini of the Cross-City Line, and provides a regular train service to via , which serves to on Sundays. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by West Midlands Railway.

Redditch railway station was first opened as the terminus of the Redditch Railway on 19 September 1859, alongside what is now Clive Road. This first station stayed until 4 May 1868 when the last section from Alcester to Redditch of the Redditch and Evesham Railway was closed, at which point a second station was built alongside the junction of Bromsgrove Road and Plymouth Road. This station was provided with a standard Midland Railway design and two platforms. The current station was built in 1993.

Buses

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Redditch_Bus_Station_1996.jpg" caption="1996}}"] ::

There is an extensive network of local bus services run by Diamond West Midlands and other operators (including Stagecoach and a community run bus). Most services run from the bus station in the town centre, a postcard of which was voted Britain's most boring postcard in a competition run by the photographer Martin Parr. The bus station was rebuilt as part of the 2002 shopping centre expansion.

Some areas of Redditch have dedicated bus routes; however, there have been issues with safety on these routes and three children have died over the past 15 years.

Road system

Redditch is occasionally noted for its confusing road system, dominated by a system of dual carriageways built when it became a New Town, including the only cloverleaf interchange in England at the junction of the A441 and the Bromsgrove-bound A448. The system is designed to allow rapid flow of large volumes of traffic around the various districts and into the town centre, whilst keeping fast moving vehicles separated from residential streets. This self-similar pattern is found on a smaller scale in many of the modern estates in the town, which follow a Radburn style of planned community.

Redditch was briefly famous, via The Graham Norton Show, for a tongue-in-cheek calendar called Roundabouts of Redditch, featuring its "picturesque" roundabouts created by a local printing company.

Education

Redditch is one of the few areas of the country where the three-tier system of first, middle and high schools still exists. Students attend first school from the age of four, middle school from the age of nine and high school at the age of 13. Other areas of Worcestershire adopted this system at the same time as Redditch (in the 1970s), but many have reverted to the traditional 5–7 infant, 7–11 junior and 11-16/18 secondary schools.

Redditch currently has four high schools (RSA Academy Arrow Vale, Saint Augustine's Catholic High School, Tudor Grange Academy, Trinity High School) and six middle schools.

Heart of Worcestershire College (often referred to locally as "HOW College") is a large general further education college: one of its four campuses is in central Redditch; the other three are in Bromsgrove, Worcester and Malvern. The closest university is the University of Birmingham, 12.5 miles (20 km) to the north.

Media

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.

Local radio stations are BBC Hereford and Worcester, Heart West Midlands, Radio Wyvern, Capital Mid-Counties, Greatest Hits Radio Midlands, Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Smooth West Midlands.

Redditch's local newspapers are The Redditch Standard and The Redditch Advertiser.

Amenities

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Church_of_St_Stephen,Redditch-geograph.org.uk-_7218.jpg" caption="St Stephen's Church (Church of England)"] ::

Since June 2013, the swimming pool at Abbey Stadium Leisure Centre has been warmed using waste heat from the nearby Redditch Crematorium, in a scheme designed to save around £15,000 a year.

In popular culture

The 2012 film Sightseers is partly set in Redditch.

Redditch is featured in a section heading in An Utterly Impartial History of Britain by John O'Farrell.

Birmingham and national TV comedian Jasper Carrott makes Redditch a repeated butt of his jokes, for example over the difficulty of escaping the Redditch ring road.

There is a listed theatre in Redditch called the Palace Theatre.

Places of interest

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Redditch_Landmarks.webm" caption="Redditch Landmarks"] ::

Kingfisher Shopping Centre

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Redditch001.jpg" caption="Worcester Square"] ::

Kingfisher Shopping Centre was opened in 1976 by the then Prime Minister James Callaghan and now forms the town's primary retail centre.

The centre has over 1100000 sqft of retail space. It is one of the largest covered shopping centres in the United Kingdom.

Arrow Valley Country Park

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/ArrowValleyLake_WaterTower.JPG" caption="View across Arrow Valley Lake"] ::

Redditch has 900 acre of public open space in Arrow Valley Country Park. This incorporates the 30 acre Arrow Valley Lake, fed by the River Arrow. The park incorporates a Local Nature Reserve, Proctor's Barn Meadow. The Arrow Valley Countryside centre, opened in 2000 in the Country Park, has a lakeside café, gift shop and an interactive exhibition. The lake is also used for water sports. There are four waymarked trails for walking and cycling around the lake and through the Country Park. There is a skate park in the south of the park with walks along the river Arrow through the Country Park to the Forge Mill Museum in the north. There are interactive events and family activities at the Countryside Centre and a comprehensive children's play area.

Royal Enfield motorcycles

Redditch was the home of the Royal Enfield motorcycle. This is where the main factory of the original company was located and the business continued manufacturing until the 1960s, the last model being the Interceptor. The Redditch factory was closed in 1967 and production was moved to the Bradford on Avon factory, which closed in 1970, ending English Enfield manufacturing. In the mid 1950s, the company established a partner, Madras Motors, in Madras, India, who manufactured the Bullet 350 model. The Indian factory is producing new models and has taken Royal Enfield into its third century of manufacturing. Some of the original factory buildings in Redditch still remain, most are in a derelict state and can be seen from Hewell Road. Some buildings have been taken over and now make the old part of Enfield Industrial Estate close to the town centre on Hewell Road.

Notable people

Town twinning

In 1956, Redditch was twinned with Auxerre in Burgundy, France. This twinning proved sufficiently popular to form an organisation named The Friends of Auxerre (FoA). At the beginning of June each year the coupling of these two towns is officially celebrated.

In 1986, Redditch was twinned with Mtwara in Tanzania. Frequent events are organised with assistance from the community of Tanzanian students at Birmingham University and Selly Oak College.

Friendship links

Redditch also has formal "Friendship" links with:

Sport

Redditch sport teams include:

Climate

Redditch has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to almost all of the United Kingdom. |location = Redditch |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan high C = 7 |Feb high C = 7 |Mar high C = 10 |Apr high C = 13 |May high C = 16 |Jun high C = 19 |Jul high C = 21 |Aug high C = 21 |Sep high C = 18 |Oct high C = 14 |Nov high C = 10 |Dec high C = 8 |year high C = |Jan low C = 2 |Feb low C = 1 |Mar low C = 3 |Apr low C = 4 |May low C = 7 |Jun low C = 10 |Jul low C = 12 |Aug low C = 12 |Sep low C = 10 |Oct low C = 7 |Nov low C = 4 |Dec low C = 2 |year low C = |Jan precipitation mm = 71.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 50.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 58 |Apr precipitation mm = 58 |May precipitation mm = 53.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 58 |Jul precipitation mm = 50 |Aug precipitation mm = 67.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 61.8 |Oct precipitation mm = 70.0 |Nov precipitation mm = 71.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 75.1 |year precipitation mm = | Jan precipitation days = 12 | Feb precipitation days = 9 | Mar precipitation days = 11 | Apr precipitation days = 10 | May precipitation days = 9 | Jun precipitation days = 9 | Jul precipitation days = 8 | Aug precipitation days = 9 | Sep precipitation days = 9 | Oct precipitation days = 11 | Nov precipitation days = 11 | Dec precipitation days = 11 | year precipitation days =

|source 1 = NOAA

References

References

  1. (11 August 2021). "Borough Crest".
  2. {{United Kingdom district population citation. area
  3. {{United Kingdom district population citation. England
  4. "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics.
  5. "Redditch Local Authority".
  6. "Redditch". City Population.
  7. "Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre, Redditch". Forge Mill Needle Museum.
  8. (1985). "Redditch: Success in the Heart of England". Publications for Companies.
  9. {{London Gazette. (14 April 1964)
  10. (1986). "The History of Redditch and The Locality". K.A.F. Brewin Books.
  11. "Moons Moat".
  12. {{NHLE
  13. "Home".
  14. "Facts and history of Redditch".
  15. "New Town Development Events".
  16. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey.
  17. "A Study of Green Belt Land & Areas of Development Restraint within Redditch Borough".
  18. (16 September 2022). "Green belt statistics - GOV.UK".
  19. "Redditch Green Belt Release to meet Growth Needs".
  20. "The Cross City Line".
  21. "". (1 April 2017). The Oldie. link
  22. (5 April 2014). "Are these the worst ring roads in England?". BBC News.
  23. (6 November 2002). "Roundabout calendar big seller". BBC News.
  24. (30 November 2021). "Redditch calendar king celebrates town's benches and Jack Grealish's calves". Newsquest Media Group.
  25. (1 May 2004). "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter".
  26. "Redditch Standard".
  27. "Redditch Advertiser".
  28. (28 June 2013). "Redditch Crematorium begins to heat town pool". BBC News.
  29. (November 2012). "Sightseers". [[Independent Film Office]].
  30. England Divided into Separate Kingdoms: no one wants Redditch, p49
  31. (5 April 2014). "Are these the worst ring roads in England?". BBC News.
  32. (2022). "Library numbers up to 12500 visitors as Redditch Labour group battles to save it".
  33. (March 2005). "Major UK Shopping Transaction with Prudential". Liberty International.
  34. (2013-11-22). "Habitats". [[Redditch Borough Council]].
  35. (2024-05-02). "Josh Baker: Worcestershire spin bowler dies, aged 20".
  36. Bonham, Mick. ''Bonham by Bonham: My Brother John'' (Solihull: Icarus Publications, 2003). {{ISBN. 0-9545717-0-3
  37. Clute and Nicholls's ''Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' (1993)
  38. (1945-08-16). "RallyBase". Rallybase.
  39. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  40. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315072505/http://jacquismithmp.co.uk/biography Jacqui Smith MP's web site] archived on Wayback Machine. Note though Ms Smith's actual place of residence was subject to some controversy in 2009, see [[Jacqui Smith#Personal life. her article]].
  41. Fricker, Martin. (2013-04-26). "Freddie Starr: Police are after me because they failed to nail Jimmy Savile – Mirror Online". Daily Mirror.
  42. Des Styles (@des styles). (22 December 2013). "Des Styles, 'Funny stuff.. Bromsgrove Advertiser says H might be born there? He was born in Redditch, we were there just in time!We lived in Evesham. X'".
  43. (2014-01-03). "Harry Styles born in Redditch – confirmed". Redditch Standard.
  44. (2023-02-23). "National recognition as Redditch comedian scoops 'Best Newcomer' in Chortle Comedy Awards". Redditch Standard.
  45. "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd.
  46. [http://redditch.whub.org.uk/home/rbcindex/rbc-visit/rbc-your-council-friendship-links_.htm] {{webarchive. link. (27 June 2006)
  47. "Redditch Roller Sports Club homepage".
  48. "Redditch Swimming Club". Redditch Swimming Club.
  49. "Redditch Road & Path Cycling Club – Home". Redditch Road & Path Cycling Club.
  50. "Redditch, UK - Weather Averages". NOAA.

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redditchtowns-in-worcestershireplanned-communities-in-englandnon-metropolitan-districts-of-worcestershireradburn-design-housing-estatesplanned-communities-established-in-the-1960spopulated-places-established-in-1964boroughs-in-englandformer-civil-parishes-in-worcestershire