‘Iconic’ modernist office block will be demolished for Aldi store
A vacant former cement company headquarters in Rugby will make way for a retail superstore, despite calls from campaigners to preserve and retrofit the building for future use.
Plans to knock down the nine-storey Cemex House office block to make way for a 17,500 sq ft store were approved by Rugby Borough Council this week, who said the scheme would create new jobs, and bring the site back into use.
German retailer Aldi had been in discussions for “a number of years” with CEMEX over the future of their former offices at Evreux Way, which were left empty after the cement firm decided to quit the building for alternative premises in 2022.
Cemex House, originally known as Crown House, was vacated in 2022. Credit: Ian Rob via Geograph
During the consultation period earlier this year, modernist architecture campaign group, the Twentieth Century Society, said the modernist-style building is a “good, well-preserved example of 1960s commercial by a well-regarded architectural practice” – and called for it to be brought back into use.
“Its tower form and prominent location give the building landmark qualities and make it an eye-catching building on the outskirts of Rugby,” they wrote in an objection letter.
“It is our view that Cemex House could, and should, be adapted for reuse and retrofitted to improve its environmental credentials.”
Cemex House was originally known as Crown House, built for the Rugby Portland Cement Company in the 1960’s.
The building was designed by interwar-established architects TP Bennett, famous for designing the grade two-listed Pennine Tower at Forton Services on the M6, and built by Sir Robert MacAlpine and sons between 1964 and 1965.
A report from the council’s conservation consultant said that, although the modernist design of buildings such as Cemex house were often “divisive”, the building had a local level of heritage significance due to its design and prominent positioning, and recommended it be considered a non-designated heritage asset.
Nonetheless, the building will be razed to the ground, after council-appointed consultants decided the new store would “contribute to the vitality of the town centre” while a proposed scheme to save the existing building was “not viable” in financial terms.
The application was approved by the council’s planning department on Wednesday, 4 March.
Leader of Rugby Borough Council, Cllr Michael Moran, said the decision forms part of ongoing work to support the long-term future of Rugby town centre, and was “very positive news” for the area.
“It is so important that key sites within the town centre are brought back into active use,” he said.
“Cemex House is one of the first major buildings people see as they come into Rugby town centre, and has been a derelict site for far too long, so getting it back in use again is a key part of regenerating the town as a whole.
“Aldi acquired Cemex House many years before my time as leader, and it has been a challenging site to bring forward. Together with Cllr Roodhouse I have done my best to bring all the relevant parties together to find a workable solution. I’m delighted that the development will create new jobs and give residents more choice, including access to affordable food shopping in a convenient location.”
Turley provided planning consultancy for the application.
Plans and documents relating to the application can be found on Rugby Borough Council’s planning portal using reference: R22/1102
