Work begins at Redditch innovation centre
Speller Metcalfe has broken ground on a £16.6m business hub aimed at advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
The 28,000 sq ft building is being constructed on the now demolished former Redditch Police Station on Grove Street, and will provide a flexible mix of office, lab and workshop space, and will host a range of local authority business support services when it opens in Spring 2028.
Originally put forward in 2021 as part of a Redditch council bid for government Town Deal funding, the project was boosted with an extra £4m in 2024, after the authority scrapped its controversial proposals to redevelop the town’s library and reallocated funds to the innovation centre scheme.
Scaled-up plans for the AHR-designed development were given the green light in December 2025.
Leader of the Council, Cllr. Matt Dormer, said the start of works on site marked an “exciting new chapter” for the town.
“Breaking ground on the Innovation Centre demonstrates our commitment to creating opportunities for local businesses, attracting investment, and ensuring our town remains at the forefront of innovation and economic growth,” he said.
“This development will provide a high-quality home for ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs, helping them to thrive here.”
The scheme forms part of wider regeneration proposals for Redditch, which have been backed by around £15m of government funding.
A town deal board, made up of representatives from public sector and voluntary organisations, local businesses, and colleges was set up in 2020 to develop an investment plan for the town.
Chair of the Redditch Town Deal Board, Brian Davy, added: “The Innovation Centre is one of the most significant projects within the Town Deal programme and today’s groundbreaking represents a major milestone for Redditch.
“The Town Deal Board has worked closely with partners over a number of years to help shape the vision, provide strategic guidance, and support the development of projects that will have a lasting impact on the town.”
