EXCITING times lie ahead for Church Hill, after Redditch Council’s planning committee approved plans for its regenerated district centre in the Church Hill area.

The plans were submitted by LSP Developments, Bellway Homes and Accord Housing Association and laid out proposals for new shops, houses and a medical centre for Church Hill.

The council’s portfolio holder for planning regeneration and economic development, Councillor Jinny Pearce, said: “This is great news for Redditch. Church Hill can now get the regeneration it needs and deserves. The local economy will get a jobs boost and the community will get much-needed affordable housing.

“A lot of time and effort has gone into these ambitious plans to improve the borough and the quality of life for residents, we are delighted that this work now has the green light.“ The detailed plans, approved by members subject to a range of planning conditions, set out how the work will be carried out in distinct phases.

Initially, a 31-space car park with five disabled spaces is set to be built on vacant waste land to the north of the site, complementing eight on-road spaces.

The plans then show a new district centre building will be built on the old car park, accommodating a new medical centre on the first floor and six existing businesses in ground floor retail units plus a cash machine.

After that, the old district centre and public house will be demolished and new residential built, creating a new ‘high street’ formed by 24 of the 51 new dwellings in the plans. Trees will also be planted so that the street takes on a boulevard style. Of the 51 homes to be built, 39 will be affordable homes and 12 will be market homes. As part of this final phase, a new access road will also be created.