UNICORN Hill and Church Green West are to be permanently closed to cars as part of a major revamp of Redditch town centre.

A £600,000 bid to the Department of Transport to redesign the whole of the town centre, including new pedestrian zones, has been successful.

Part of Unicorn Hill and Church Green West are currently closed to cars and being used as a bus station while work on a new transport interchange is completed.

Worcestershire County Council highways manager for Redditch, Jim Casey, said: "It is our intention to put a pedestrian scheme in Church Green West and Unicorn Hill.

"This will link up with the work being undertaken in Bromsgrove Road as part of the new Redditch Bus Station.

"There will still be a bus route through there, together with access for taxis, disabled vehicles and cyclists, but it will be closed permanently to other vehicles."

A team of surveyors is looking at the town centre so that architects have an accurate base plan to work from.

Mr Casey added: "We've been allocated £100,000 this year to get the final design drawn up and the rest will come in the next financial year so that work can start.

"It's at a very early stage but there will be opportunities for businesses and members of the public to make their comments."