REDDITCH should send a regeneration team to Birmingham to learn how to transform the town centre.

That’s the blunt message from leading law firm Kerwoods Solicitors, which is pushing for more creative thinking to help rejuvenate the tired and dated town centre.

Veronica Du’Quesnay, head of residential conveyancing at Redditch-based Kerwoods, said: “The way that Birmingham has driven a renaissance of its city centre with the clever use of brownfield sites in the last decade has been remarkable.

“Several different areas have been brought back to life with the clever use of former offices, warehouses and manufacturing areas for what are now smart, attractive and highly sought-after residential apartment blocks.”

Birmingham’s residential developments include a number of old factories, offices and other commercial properties in locations like the Jewellery Quarter, Millennium Point and the Mailbox.

Ms Du’Quesnay added: “Here in Redditch town centre we need more creative thinking to bring our dead space and older properties back to life.

“It would be a great idea for Redditch Borough Council to send a team of its town planners, along with top local developers, into Birmingham city centre to look at the numerous successful commercial to residential developments.

“This would help the local people in charge of regeneration to think more creatively and to be more innovative in their plans for what could then become an exciting town centre here in Redditch.

“In a nutshell, Birmingham has revived its old, tired city centre, making it one of the prides of Britain in regeneration terms, and Redditch should unashamedly take a few leaves out of its giant neighbour’s books.”