A PLAN to demolish a high-rise town centre office block to make way for a discount supermarket has been backed by a ward councillor – and the vast majority of respondents to a public consultation.
Aldi has submitted its £5million plan to Rugby Borough Council to transform the former Cemex site in Evreux Way, which would include the demolition of Cemex Tower.
The plan, which was announced in July, was supported by over 1,000 people in a public consultation – 85 per cent of those who took part.
The supermarket chain says the new store supports the council’s plan to modernise the town centre by bringing new retailers to the area.
The plan has been backed by Benn Ward Councillor Maggie O’Rourke, who said: “The plans will help to rejuvenate our town centre, replacing the tired Cemex building with a modern and accessible food store that offers local residents’ greater choice for their weekly shop.
“I hope the council will back these plans as part of the first step in modernising our town centre and protecting it as the retail hub of the borough.”
An artist’s impression of the proposed store, as viewed from Corporation Street.
The new store will be accessed via Corporation Street with an egress point onto Evreux Way – allowing shoppers to access the north of the town centre without going around the one-way gyratory system.
The plan includes 93 car parking spaces – including accessible and parent-and-child bays, and electric vehicle charging points – with 90 minutes of free parking.
The new supermarket would create up to 45 new jobs, as well as additional jobs during construction and throughout the supply chain.
Aldi Property Director Robin Williams said: “Our plans will help to realise the council’s ambition of regenerating the town centre.
“Aldi is a high-quality discount retailer and is now the fourth largest supermarket in the UK. We’re excited about working with local businesses and residents to bring more people into the area to shop and to create over 45 new jobs for local people.”
Cemex has sold the site and moved its UK head office to a new site in Binley.
If approved, the plans will see another change to Rugby’s skyline. The famous radio masts were taken down in 2007 to make way for the fast-growing Houlton neighbourhood, and two eleven-storey blocks of flats at Biart Place were deconstructed during lockdown – with three blocks at Rounds Gardens also scheduled for demolition.
And in April, a plan was unveiled to knock down the northern wing of the Rugby Central shopping centre and replace it with two seven-storey blocks comprising 210 apartments and ground-floor shops.
Visit www.aldiconsultation.co.uk/rugby/support for more information, and to share feedback on the on the proposals with Aldi.
Visit https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/rugby/search-applications and search for ‘R22/1102’ to see the full planning application and comment before the closing date of November 25.
