PROPOSALS to demolish an old town centre factory and build up to 75 homes and flats have been given outline planning permission by Redditch Borough Council.
The site, known as the Victoria Works, lies between Britten Street and Edward Street off Bromsgrove Road and is flanked by the Ashleigh Works to the south and Vernier Springs to the north.
Illustrative plans put before borough planners showed proposals for 20 two bedroom and 6 three bedroom houses in parallel rows fronting Edward Street and Britten Street to be known as Victoria Mews.
There would also be an apartment block of 49 flats, 19 one bedroom and 30 two bedroom named Victoria Works.
In a sign of the times each house would be provided with an electric car charging point and although the two bed flats would have a parking space the one bed ones would be ‘car free’ with car owners expected to park on neighbouring streets.
The development, which could be seen as the first step in the re-shaping of the railway ‘quarter’ also makes provision for 132 bicycle parking spaces with residents given ‘personalised travel plan’ advice by Worcestershire County Council.
Planning committee chair Councillor Mike Chalk acknowledged the illustrative plans went along with the theme of a ‘factory’ setting but admitted he would prefer something a bit more dynamic in design terms when the development goes forward for full planning permission.
“The architect was careful that it fit into the local environment as an industrial style building, but as the area is being redeveloped I’d have liked something a bit more dynamic,” he said.
“Something to generate a bit of excitement, get people talking, something that people coming in by train would say, wow, look at that.”
