THE ‘DECLINING’ Rugby Central Shopping Centre and other key sites could be taken over by Rugby Borough Council (RBC) as part of its plan to revitalise the town centre.
The council aims to either buy the centre outright, work as part of a joint venture, or use its new rental auction powers and compulsory purchase procedures to take control of the shopping centre.
RBC aims to demolish the centre’s empty Northway Mall to kickstart redevelopment plans in the area, and bring an NHS hub and new retailers to the remaining part.
RBC leader Coun Michael Moran said: “We cannot stand by and watch Rugby Central continue to decline.
“We have investment partners to work with to bring about much-needed change to this centre.”
He said the council’s focus was to remove empty buildings and ‘give Rugby a chance to thrive again’ with new attractions.
The council’s Liberal Democrat Group Leader Coun Jerry Roodhouse said it was time to take back control of shopping space in the town centre.
He said: “The current owners have no interest in Rugby or in developing this site, and are running it into the ground. They have had planning permission for years for the northern section but have chosen to do nothing with it.
“We have served notices to start using the High Street Auctions process within Rugby Central to get it occupied again. Ultimately, if the owners do not wish to work with us, we will initiate a compulsory purchase of the site in order to unlock the site and let Rugby take back control.”
The council has also been working with the owners of the Brotherhood House site – a derelict building facing the Old Market Place car park off Gas Street – to come to an agreement to redevelop it into a creative hub and activity space as part of a proposed Cultural Quarter.
RBC was one of the first councils in the country to use new powers to auction leases for long-term empty shops, bringing several empty units back into use.
The council has also introduced a business rates relief scheme to help retail and hospitality businesses, and a design policy which has improved shop fronts. A second phase of council backed grants to assist business and landlords to make improvements is soon to follow.
Coun Moran added: “Our work to support the town centre is about fixing areas that put people off visiting and increasing footfall. We cannot work miracles but Rugby deserves better than this.
“I want to continue working with businesses in the town as well as make changes that help create a more pleasant place for people to visit and spend time.”
