19/06/2025
Redditch Market:
A Revival in Name Only?
One of the key pledges made by the Redditch Labour Party during their successful local election campaign was to prevent the demolition of the town’s library and to bring back the outdoor market — two symbolic elements of the town’s civic identity that had come under threat during the previous Conservative administration. The market, once a lively and bustling fixture of the town centre, had faded from prominence over the past decade. Labour promised to restore it.
Once in office, the new Labour council set about delivering on that promise. Electric points were installed across the newly laid town centre paving — a move that required digging up recently completed surfaces. This was done to facilitate the return of stalls and re-establish the outdoor market in its original location. It was a deliberate and public reversal of previous policy, aimed at making good on campaign commitments.
At its re-launch, the market was presented with considerable fanfare. A generous number of stalls appeared on launch day, and the publicity push included positive coverage, social media posts, and an air of optimism about Redditch “reclaiming” part of its high street character.
But that initial energy has not lasted.
Today, the reality is that Redditch Market, in its current form, rarely hosts more than four or five stalls. The buzz of launch day has fizzled out. Traders appear sporadically, and on many days the space is largely empty. While the infrastructure remains — power points, marked bays, promotional banners — the presence of a functioning town market is minimal at best.
The local council now routinely posts social media updates to let residents know which traders will be appearing — a necessity, as there are no regular or consistent stallholders. Each day is a guessing game, and the uncertainty has likely played a role in deterring both visitors and potential new traders. A market needs consistency and predictability — this one has neither.
It’s worth remembering how we got here.
For years, Redditch’s outdoor market was a vibrant part of the local economy, stretching across the town centre with traders offering a range of goods: fresh produce, clothing, plants, household items. But as shopping habits changed, and the Kingfisher Centre offered year-round warmth, convenience, and competitive pricing, footfall in the market dwindled. Shoppers naturally gravitated indoors.
During a previous regeneration scheme, the market was temporarily moved inside the Kingfisher Centre while new paving was laid outside. But once that work was completed, the market was not invited to return outside. Instead, the Conservative-run council focused its attention on a broader redevelopment vision, which included plans to demolish the current library building and introduce new, modern civic and commercial space in its place. This sparked controversy and became one of the defining issues of the local elections.
Labour opposed those plans, positioning themselves as the defenders of Redditch’s civic past — and won. The return of the market was a key visual gesture, proving their intent to undo what they saw as short-sighted decisions.
But the question remains: is a market with four or five stalls truly a market at all?
The issue here is not one of intention, but of ex*****on. A market cannot thrive simply because infrastructure is provided or because a political point is made. Markets succeed when there is demand, footfall, variety, and momentum. The present incarnation of Redditch Market, despite best efforts, lacks all of these things.
This doesn’t mean it should be abandoned. But it does suggest that more work is needed if this is to be more than just a symbolic gesture. Traders need incentives. The public needs reasons to attend. And the council needs to ask: what role does a market serve in a modern town centre — and how can it evolve to meet today’s needs?
As things stand, we can safely say this pledge hasn’t worked. The spirit behind it may have been genuine, but the outcome falls far short of what Redditch was promised — and what its residents deserve.
