“We are making bus travel a more attractive, reliable, and accessible option”

Bus stops in Rugby town centre are being given a facelift.

Upgrades will take place in North Street and Church Street, including new shelters and strategic repositioning.

This aligns with the Rugby Town Centre Public Realm Masterplan to reduce traffic movements, increase pedestrian footfall, and create a more welcoming urban environment.

At its meeting on November 12, Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet approved plans to inject over £12 million into the Council’s Capital Programme to help transform bus infrastructure and passenger facilities across the county.

The funding, from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG), will be deployed over a four-year period (2026-27 to 2029-30) to deliver priority schemes outlined in the recently submitted Warwickshire Local Transport Delivery Plan.

With improvements entirely funded by the DfT grant, the critical infrastructure projects will have no impact on the Council’s core budget.

The initial phase of the programme allocates a combined £7.002 million specifically for key bus interchange schemes, commencing from 2027-28 onwards.

Cllr Stephen Shaw, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, said: “This £12 million funding investment is a significant milestone for Warwickshire's public transport network.

“By modernising our bus interchanges - particularly through major projects like the Nuneaton Bus Station reconfiguration and vital town centre upgrades in Rugby - we are making bus travel a more attractive, reliable, and accessible option for our residents and our town's potential visitors.

"These investments go far beyond transport. They are essential catalysts for economic regeneration in our town centres, promoting social inclusion, and they actively support our environmental and public health goals by encouraging more sustainable travel across the county.”

Warwickshire Public Health has championed the plans, noting that high-quality bus infrastructure promotes social inclusion and delivers positive physical and mental health benefits for residents.

The recommendations approved by Cabinet on November 12 will now be taken to the Full Council in December 2026 for final sign-off, ensuring the multi-million-pound external funding is officially added to the Capital Programme.

The background Cabinet paper for this item can be found here: Bus Interchanges - Additions to the Capital Programme

More information about buses in Warwickshire can be found online: Warwickshire Buses Website.