14/12/2021 - More positive steps to improve Luton town centre

The council has secured an initial £50,000 from the Partnerships for People and Place (PfPP) funding from the government to support “levelling up”, particularly as we recover from the pandemic as well as to encourage pride in the local community. Luton’s bid proposal recognised the need to improve the town centre, a social, economic and community hub, which in turn will help transform the rest of the town.

Working together with local partners and central government, the funds will unlock opportunities in the town centre that can lead to long-term economic prosperity and prevent residents from falling into deprivation.

A Town Centre Strategic Board will also be created with partners working across all town centre initiatives, including the Town Centre Masterplan, Economic Recovery and Inclusive Economy Strategies, longer-term regeneration and physical environment planning, the commitment to be a carbon-neutral town and our approach to homelessness reduction.

This follows the council’s successful bid for £20m of levelling up funding which will go towards a multi-purpose development where Bute Street carpark currently sits. The area will see 372 homes, new community, retail and business spaces, an auditorium and a cycle hub. The project will support the growth of businesses in various sectors and so help create local employment opportunities, skills, training available and will be completed by 2025.

Cllr Sian Goding, portfolio holder for Regeneration and Inclusive Growth said, “We recognise that we can’t create magic overnight; our master plan is a long term one. However, we can continue to make improvements, and the Partnerships for People and Place funding is more great news for the town centre.  With this money, the council can focus on the immediate challenges to ensure a strong economic recovery and protect the town’s most disadvantaged residents from the worst impacts of the pandemic, so no one is left behind.

“Using our Luton 2040 framework to bring together the good work already taking place across local networks and with various government departments, we can aim to solve town centre issues as part of a new system-wide strategic approach”.

More positive steps to improve the town centre are also happening with the council recently appointing a contractor to work on opening up the River Lea and add more green space. This project is being made possible after the council secured more than £950k from the European Regional Development Fund, and work will begin on this early next year.

A revised first phase of the proposed Power Court development made up of around 1200 flats, ground floor retail and new public realm together with opening up of the culverted river lea was also approved this month. The council is also talking to a number of landowners and stakeholders about bringing forward other developments on various key sites.

Thanks to £264k received as part of the Welcome Back Fund, there is also extra cleaning, additional greenery, new public works of art, and a range of events to liven up our town centre, making it a place for residents and visitors can enjoy.

Find out more about the Town Centre Masterplan on our website.