Rugby launches £140m town centre reboot plans
Seven redevelopment sites have been identified as part of a planned decade-long regeneration programme for a Warwickshire town centre.
At a cabinet meeting held this week, councillors in Rugby adopted the “Rugby Revitalised” strategy, a phased programme of public, private and partnership-led investment, planned to improve the town centre as well as delivering new homes, enhancing public spaces, and improving connectivity across Rugby.
The document picks out three schemes as having the greatest potential impact on the town, at Rugby Central, St Andrew’s Quarter and the Cultural Quarter.
Taken together, Rugby council says the identified sites have the potential for up to 600 homes, 20,000 sq ft of community and civic uses, 40,000 sq ft of enhanced retail and leisure, and two new public squares.
Projections accompanying the proposals estimate the potential for up to £140m gross development value, and a boost of around £77m per year to the local economy.
The plan will be passed on to a new unitary authority for north and east Warwickshire, which is due to replace Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council in April 2028.
Cllr Louise Robinson, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said adoption of the strategy represented a major step forward for Rugby town centre.
“Even as we prepare for a new unitary council to come into effect from 2028, we are leading the change that our residents and businesses want to see,” she said.
“We are setting out the steps needed to turn the town centre around, bring key sites back into better use, improve public spaces and attract new investment, both in the short term and in the long-term under a new unitary authority.
“This is about more than buildings. It is about creating a town centre that feels active, welcoming and full of pride. We want Rugby to be a place where people choose to visit, shop, spend time and invest.”
The four other sites picked out in the plan are Rugby Town Hall, North Street East Car Park, Albert Street, and Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
The council says it has already taken steps to support town centre regeneration, including a development brief for Rugby Central shopping centre, and plans for a new public square at Old Market Place, alongside initiatives to tackle empty shops and improve public realm.
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, deputy leader of Rugby Borough Council, added: “Town centres across the country are changing, and Rugby has a real chance to shape its own future.
“This delivery plan gives us a clear route forward. It looks at what can be done now, what needs more design work, and what will need longer-term investment.
“We want the benefits of this work to be felt by residents, businesses and visitors for years to come.”
Rugby’s town centre delivery plan can be viewed in full on the local authority’s website.
rugby town centre has declined just like all other areas across the UK spending £140 million which will no doubt double it’s going to change when people have no money to spend or feel safe during the evening
generate 77 million pa who dreams these figures up
By Anonymous
Believe it when I see it. Took RBC 30 years to re-deveop what is now Asfa and The Swan Centre!!
By Anonymous
Rugby was a thriving market town with a phenomenal history but unfortunately due to bad planning and mindless destruction it has been reduced to the sorry state it is now. It had such character with wonderful architecture, Alms Houses by the clock tower replaced by characterless red brick buildings. There was a thriving market and cattle market. There was a pride in cleanliness. Of course then came the precinct complete with leaking roof. One could go on and on … Oh I know times have changed and in some cases pride has gone, but there are those who really do care and who work tirelessly to give without recognition and reward and how very sad life and the World would be without them. Kindness and tolerance costs nothing and is it’s own reward.
By Anonymous