Public Realm

The Public Realm Masterplan (PRM) (2025) has been produced by Planit on behalf of the Council. It sets out a clear vision for public realm within the town centre and identifies a range of gateways/arrival points, ways to connect to existing communities and better places/ spaces opportunities in the town centre. The objectives of the masterplan are:

• Create high quality places to build civic pride, to attract visitors, workers and residents and to increase dwell time and improve health and wellbeing
• Create a public realm that reflects the heritage of Rugby
• Provide opportunities for sustainable and active travel to support public transport access to the town centre as well as improving walking, cycling and wheeling.
• Ensure that all improvements are adaptable to climate change
• Integrate water management, biodiversity, air quality priorities, renewable energy creation as part of healthy streets and spaces
• Enhance and connect green spaces across the town centre
• Provide clear priorities for improvements and direction for future developments within Rugby town centre
• Provide enhanced streets and public spaces for events – to include local businesses, cultural, community and voluntary organisations – adding vitality to the town centre.

With an aim of creating better places and spaces, 6 key projects (8 including street and laneway improvements) are identified within the Public Realm Masterplan. These projects are:

• Project 1 – Clock tower to Old Market Place
• Project 2 – The Stitch North
• Project 3 – The Stitch South (including Pleasance Gardens)
• Project 4 – Chapel Street Square
• Project 5 – RAGM Entrance/Frontage
• Project 6 – William Webb Ellis Park/Plaza

The Council is also producing a Delivery Plan and reviewing other land holdings which need to be taken into account before decisions can be made on delivery of all suggested projects within the Masterplan. Considering the above officers have sought to prioritise which projects to progress first based on the Public Realm Masterplan and the public and stakeholder consultation undertaken in September 2024.