REDEVELOPMENT

In the mid-50s came the first dramatic addition to Aston's landscape. This was not redevelopment but new building on Mill and Hodgetts Moors, overlooking Salford Reservoir. Four twelve-storey 'points' and three long blocks of three storeys comprised the Holte Estate, a showpiece of its time. Largest of the five Redevelopment Areas approved under the 1944-47 'Blitz and Blight' Acts, NEWTOWN included all of Villa and Lozells south of the Inner Circle, from Hockley Hill/Hamstead Road to Newtown Row/Aston high Street: two additions were made to this later, the LOZELLS (actually Villa) and JAMES STREET zones.

Within all the 'new towns' certain principles were to be applied; segregation of land use, zoning of industry, self-sufficient neighbourhood units of varied housing from towers to bungalows about amenity centres, peripheral service roads, throughways with limited access and pedestrian subways, provision of open space in parkway ribbons rather than polygonal expanses. Inevitable results of the almost total demolition were the destruction of communities and the loss of jobs; many small firms in cheap premises did not start again on designated industrial sites, so that the former strength of' Aston's industry, its diversity and skilled labour force, were lost.

Later zones for redevelopment, on which clearance is well-advanced and some rebuilding has been done, are SOUTH ASTON and QUEENS ROAD. The former extends between High Street and Lichfield Road to the south side of Victoria Road: the latter, south and east of the Park, and west of the Fazeley Canal, extends from Catherine Street to the Holte Estate.

After 1970, when the problems caused by wholesale redevelopment and particularly by 'highrise' living, were recognised, Renewal Areas were designated in which the best of existing properties would be retained and improved; the rest of Lozells in among these. Well-built terraces of the 1880s and later are to be repaired and improved.

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