Luton – a centre for success

More and more people are linking Luton and success as the town rises like a phoenix from the ashes of its industrial past of the manufacturing of Vauxhall cars, light engineering and a chemicals industry to meet the challenge of transforming into a town to meet the changing needs of the 21st century.

A £10bn regeneration programme, excellent communication links, and a variety of schemes for mixed-use development means that Luton is helping to build a brighter and better future for businesses. £4bn has been invested in funding infrastructure and private development over the next six years – the largest for any town in the UK.
At the heart of this transformation is the renaissance of the town centre itself.

Millions of pounds are being invested in creating a town centre that reflects the successful, modern and diverse town that Luton is fast becoming.

During World War II German bombing caused extensive damage to buildings in the town and much of the rebuilding took place during the 1960s.

Like many towns across the country the post war architecture in Luton has not stood the test of time and now it is being replaced to create a new and vibrant gateway to the town including an improved railway station and transport interchange which includes a guided busway and taxi facility and a station square with shops and houses.

The Gateway is the most important regeneration project to happen in Luton complementing other important development projects such as the extension of the Mall shopping centre and the proposed £200m Power Court development by Ballymore properties. The University of Bedfordshire is also planning a major redevelopment of its campus in the town centre. It will also create an important link point between the historic Victorian High Town and the town centre.

The public transport interchange facilities will be modern and easy to use. More than £80m of government funding has been secured for the innovative ‘Luton & Dunstable guided bus way’ scheme which will provide a guided bus public transport corridor across the whole urban conurbation linking Luton to neighbouring towns, the airport and major employment sites.

The guided bus way, the bus interchange and the railway station will be close together in order that people can reach them easily and conveniently.

The town’s main square, bigger than Leicester Square in London, has recently undergone a multi million pound makeover winning a national environmental award into the bargain. St George’s square has set the quality benchmark for the programme of town centre improvements.

Colin Chick, director of environment and regeneration at Luton Borough Council said: “First impressions are important and usually influence the overall perception of the character of the town centre. The new Gateway area will send out a strong and positive message to visitors that they have arrived in a modern attractive town that is superbly situated, successful, entertaining and diverse.

“The redevelopment of the town centre will also play a major part in complementing the extensive development and regeneration that is taking place both inside and outside of the town centre. This includes Explore Investments transformation of the old Vauxhall car plant site into Napier Park – a £440m development creating state of the art offices, industrial space, 1,000 new homes and the new business and technology parks offering a wide range of high quality business premises.”