Rugby unveils ten-year plan to revitalise town centre
Council aims to transform spaces and support businesses
Rugby Borough Council has launched a comprehensive ten-year delivery plan aimed at transforming Rugby town centre.
The Rugby Town Centre Delivery Plan outlines a range of projects designed to enhance key town centre sites, upgrade public spaces, boost events, improve the outdoor market, and support businesses as well as empty shops.
Significant projects included in the plan involve shaping the future of the Rugby Central shopping centre, establishing a cultural quarter, improving the area between the Clock Tower and Old Market Place, and creating a new public space for community events.
In addition, the council has introduced a Rugby Town Centre Social Value Framework, which guides town centre projects to contribute wider benefits like local employment, enhanced skills, support for small businesses, and improvements in health and wellbeing.
The plan also focuses on climate action and offers new opportunities for community organisations.
The council is already working on improvements to St Andrew’s Church and Gardens, Rugby Outdoor Market, town centre frontages, and ways to make the town centre safer, greener and easier to move around.
Cllr Louise Robinson, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “This is 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.
“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.”
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Deputy Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “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.
“It also means we can make the most of every project.
“We want the benefits of this work to be felt by residents, businesses and visitors for years to come.”