www.thinkluton.co.uk

Your future? Our future

Contents Think outside the box 3

Location, location, location 4

Business and commerce 6

Skills and training 8

Business clusters 9

Don’t take our word for it 12

Butterfield 14

Napier Park 15

Power Court 16

Hightown 17

The Mall 18

Century Park 19

Station Gateway 20

Education development 22

Transport infrastructure 25

2

WelcomeLuton is one of Europe’s best kept secrets when it comes to business and investment.

It has an unrivalled combination of superb communications, skills, resources and infrastructure which add up to a location with more to offer than you ever realised.

But don’t hang around! People are catching on fast, and more and more businesses across all sectors are recognising that this is the place to build and grow a brighter and better future.

Luton is already home to major international brands that are enjoying the benefits of being based here. Excellent advice and support is on hand to all businesses, new and old, big and small, to help them to develop, expand and exceed their expectations.

In recent years billions of pounds have been invested in and committed to Luton, enabling it to continue to successfully grow and develop, offering excellent business prospects both for now and in the future.

Think … outside the box

3

Town and country

Think ...

Situated only 30 miles north of London, Luton has easy access to most major cities in the UK due to its excellent road, air and rail links.

Surrounded by the Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Luton offers the best of both worlds; a modern, cosmopolitan town with excellent business opportunities and accommodation, with the added advantage of superb countryside on its doorstep, making it a great place to live, learn, work and have fun.

Luton has many natural open spaces, including seven landscaped parks which have achieved Green Flag Award status, and recreational areas including the state-of-the-art Inspire Luton Sports Village leisure facility featuring a 50-metre competition-grade swimming pool.

Luton is home to more than 200,000 people, many of whom are young and skilled. It also has a catchment of 23 million people within two hours’ travel time.

The University of Bedfordshire, Barnfield College and Luton Sixth Form College all offer high-quality facilities for education and training.

LondonLuton Airport

ButterfieldNapier ParkThe MallTown CentrePower CourtStation Gateway

LDB RouteLuton Northern BypassJ 10aTown Centre Transport Scheme

Leagrave

LutonCentral

Luton AirportParkway

A505

A505

A1(M)

A6

J11

J10

J10a

12

3456

10

11

HightownMarsh FarmCentury ParkBarnfield College6th Form CollegeUniversity of Bedfordshire

78910

11

12

12

1

23

4 5

8

7

6 9

The North-Birmingham 88 miles

London - 34 milesM25 - 5 miles

The South-St Pancras

25 mins

The North-Sheffield

2 hrs

Bedford16 miles

Junction 88 miles

Kilometers 4

2Miles

Luton is one of the area’s largest towns and enjoys an unrivalled position within the South-East.

4

Going places

location, location, location

If you need to get around then you could not be better placed, Luton has excellent communications however you choose to travel.

Just off the newly-widened M1, minutes from the M25 and a short distance from the A1, Luton has easy access to many main road routes. Major improvements to local road networks include the building of a new £22 million road to provide an easy and fast link between the M1 and London Luton Airport.

The innovative Luton Dunstable Busway, opened in September 2013, makes it easy to travel quickly and easily across Luton and surrounding areas.

Three railway stations serve Luton with fast rail services across the UK. The international rail terminal at London St Pancras is just 22 minutes away. London Luton Airport offers flights to more than100 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

A number of companies offer private jet charters from London Luton Airport.

M1

M11

A1M6

M4

M3 M2M5

M25

M40

M62

Paris Dublin Edinburgh Belfast Geneva Barcelona Glasgow

By Air:

1hr 15mn1hr 10mn1hr 15mn1hr 15mn1hr 45mn2hr 15mn1hr 15mn

London 34 milesBirmingham 88 milesHarwich 102 milesFolkestone 113 milesDover 116 milesLeeds 163 milesManchester 168 milesLiverpool 180 miles

By Road:

Paris via St Pancras Intl.(Eurostar*) 3hr 5mnSt Pancras 22mnGatwick Airport 1hr 26mnNottingham 1hr 32mnSheffield 2hrLeeds 3hr

By Rail:

(*Estimated journey time Luton to Paris via St Pancras International)

M1

0MM40

1

St Pancras International

Lowestoft

Harwich

DoverFolkestone

Brighton

London

Southampton

Birmingham

Manchester

Leeds

Liverpool

Bristol

LondonLuton Airport

ButterfieldNapier ParkThe MallTown CentrePower CourtStation Gateway

LDB RouteLuton Northern BypassJ 10aTown Centre Transport Scheme

Leagrave

LutonCentral

Luton AirportParkway

A505

A505

A1(M)

A6

J11

J10

J10a

12

3456

10

11

HightownMarsh FarmCentury ParkBarnfield College6th Form CollegeUniversity of Bedfordshire

78910

11

12

12

1

23

4 5

8

7

6 9

The North-Birmingham 88 miles

London - 34 milesM25 - 5 miles

The South-St Pancras

25 mins

The North-Sheffield

2 hrs

Bedford16 miles

Junction 88 miles

Kilometers 4

2Miles

5

Luton is a key area for business and commerce in the South-East. By meeting the changing face of industry and business, it is becoming one of the leading areas for business growth in the UK.

In recent years a number of companies have relocated or stayed in Luton and brought in investments of over £60 million. New and existing companies are thriving in the local economy, with a number of major companies choosing Luton for their headquarters including:

Astra Zeneca UK (pharmaceuticals) Selex-ES (research headquarters) Ernst & Young TUI Travel PLC (formerly Thomson) easyJet Monarch Group SKF Hayward Tyler MTL Industries

Luton is also home to Vauxhall’s head office, its European customer care centre, warehouse and GM Manufacturing Luton, the latter producing the new Vivaro van under the Vauxhall, Opel, Nissan and Renault brands.

Capability Green and the Butterfield Business Park, incorporating the award-winning Innovation Centre and Business Base, offer state-of-the-art, contemporary and sustainable buildings for a variety of end-uses. These range from corporate headquarters and serviced offices through to bespoke buildings for research and development, manufacturing and technology.

Luton is receptive to change and takes every opportunity to draw in funds to support its infrastructure and its growing businesses. The strong and vibrant economy is sustained through very positive relationships with major strategic partners and businesses within its main business clusters. As a key partner in the Local Enterprise Partnership, Luton supports a shared vision of growth for the whole of the South-East Midlands economy.

6

Think ...

Business and commerceLuton is a vibrant and multicultural town which has reinvented itself through regeneration and investment to become one of the top achieving areas in the UK for business growth.

Growing, investing in or relocating your business is a key decision. Businesses in Luton have already benefitted from more than £8 million of grant funding, generating £60 million of private sector investment, creating more than 1,000 jobs and supporting another 230.

Luton Borough Council’s economic development service is dedicated to increasing the borough’s economic growth by helping existing businesses to grow here and others to locate to the town. We provide a one-stop shop offering the following support:

Sourcing business premises Providing research and statistics Offering business advice Locating start-up premises Assisting and facilitating networking Supplying information on wider

issues

Financing your investment decision is foremost. Currently there are a number of grant schemes your company can tap into, including:

Business Growth Incentive Scheme – operated by the Council and providing some business rates relief in the first year if moving to a building that currently receives empty property rate relief. For more information go to www.luton.gov.uk and search for Business Growth Incentive Scheme.

Grants4Growth – a free programme for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Bedfordshire seeking practical help and financial assistance to reduce costs or increase competitiveness and resilience. See www.grants4growth.org.uk

Velocity Growth Hub – match-funded grants from £1,000 to £10,000 which can be used for a range of initiatives including improving sales, productivity or business processes and creating or safeguarding jobs, incorporating website development, business strategy and marketing, IT and software upgrades, project planning, accounting, recruitment and training. See www.VelocityBusinessSupport.com or call 0300 01234 35, terms and conditions apply

Low Carbon Innovation Fund – an equity finance scheme for small and medium sized-enterprises in the East of England that are contributing to the low-carbon economy. See www.lowcarbonfund.co.uk

For details of these and other local and national grants and initiatives that businesses may be able to access, please email economicdevelopment@luton.gov.uk

business and commerce

Funding and grants

7

Luton’s vision is to have a skilled workforce, creating better opportunities for its residents and supporting a vibrant and thriving business economy. We are working to develop a culture of aspiration and high achievement that provides the skills employers are seeking and which will help us towards our goal of sustained growth of Luton’s economy.

A key part of the strategy is for the Council, employers, education and learning providers and other agencies to work together to relentlessly focus on skills and improving employment chances.

Luton has excellent education provision, supporting the needs of learners and local employers.

Within the secondary sector, school performance has shown marked increases over the last ten years and now compares very favourably with both national averages and Luton’s ‘statistical neighbours’.

After leaving school, young people have a broad range of options to further their ambitions.

An outstanding sixth form college offers an unrivalled curriculum, further education colleges respond to local need with courses that supply the labour market with the skills needed to

compete, and the University of Bedfordshire engages and supports businesses in their research, development and training needs from its state-of-the-art main campus in the town centre.

Benefitting from significant capital investment over the last ten years, much of Luton’s education stock has been transformed and is now equipped to train and develop learners for the employment needs of tomorrow.

Think ...

Skills and training

8

Working with its partners and businesses, Luton Borough Council has implemented an all-age Skills and Employability Strategy for the town.

London Luton Airport is one of the UK’s largest airports and will carry more than 10 million passengers in 2014.

A major economic driver for the regional economy, London Luton Airport employs around 8,500 people, making it the largest private sector employer in Luton.

The airport offers flights to more than 100 destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

easyJet, Monarch and Thomson all have bases at London Luton, and the airport is home to significant cargo and aircraft engineering operations. Wizz Air, Ryanair, EL AL, Atlasjet, Blue Air and TAROM and a number of charter airlines also fly from the airport, which is the busiest for private aviation in the UK.

The airport is operated under concession from London Luton Airport Ltd and its shareholder Luton Borough Council by Ardian, the independent private investment company, and AENA, the world’s leading airport operator serving 200 million passengers a year.

High-profile aviation sector organisations located in Luton include:

easyJet (headquarters) GKN Aerospace Monarch Group Selex-ES TUI Travel PLC Harrods Aviation

business clusters

Reach for the skyMore and more investors, developers and businesses are choosing Luton, with the number of companies relocating or staying in the town growing all the time.

It’s the combination of excellent communications, skills and business growth and support that is making Luton one of the country’s top choices when it comes to investment.

9

Think ...

Driving force for businessIn 1905 Vauxhall opened the country’s first large-scale car factory in Luton. Today IBC Vehicles Ltd (General Motors-owned) produces light commercial vehicles, and the town is home to world-leading British and international engineering companies serving the automotive, aviation, defence and pharmaceutical industries. Vauxhall is the UK’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer and builds the recently-launched, all-new Vivaro van in Luton, creating 250 new jobs as an additional shift is introduced.

Boasting the largest concentration of precision engineering in the greater London area, and the benefits of lower business costs, Luton offers immediate access to key clusters such as the A1(M) pharmaceutical corridor, the Midlands automotive sector and Motorsport Valley, whose world-leading engineering, research and development companies stretch from Luton to Coventry.

Luton can point to more than a century of successful engineering and manufacturing activity, and the wide range of companies here includes many headquarters.

Firms have adapted to the evolving economic climate by taking up new opportunities in emerging technologies and markets.

This includes the key local sector linked to aviation and London Luton Airport, and also other expanding sectors such as the ICT and health markets.

All this activity means Luton offers access to a wide range of engineering related skills and supply chain businesses in surrounding areas including Dunstable, Kempston, Hitchin and Stevenage.

Local educational establishments also feature a range of engineering and management courses relevant to the sector, further boosting access to skills.

High-profile organisations in this sector located in Luton include:

Vauxhall Motors MacDonald Humfrey Hayward Tyler Group SKF TRUMPF Ltd TTI Group Ltd Frank Brown & Son Ltd

10

Luton is synonymous with vehicle manufacturing and high-precision engineering.

business clusters

We have the technology Get creative in Luton

In good health

Luton is proud to have a number of British and multinational high technology firms who have chosen the town for key facilities including UK and European headquarters.

These companies design, assemble and sell electronic components, defence, aerospace and autosport systems, precision controls, software and web design. From Luton they supply into British and overseas markets including defence, film and media, automotive, electrical engineering and business services.

The success of these companies is based on the availability of skilled employees from the high-value business clusters across Luton, London and the South-East. High technology companies are also drawn to Luton by the presence of other similar businesses, the town’s advanced infrastructure which provides easy access to customers and suppliers, and the availability of high-quality property and business parks.

Luton also typically offers lower operating costs than London and the rest of the South-East. Salaries are competitive when compared with other locations seeking to attract high technology investment.

Other UK and Luton-based firms operate internationally from here too, with high-profile organisations in this sector located in Luton including:

MTL Instruments Experian Integrated Marketing Jaltek Group Anritsu EMEA Ltd ZF Electronics UK Ltd

Luton has a long history with creative industries, starting in the 17th century when it was the centre of the hat-making trade. Today it is still a creative hub.

The University of Bedfordshire is one of the leading creative arts education providers in the country. Luton is also proud to be home to one of the biggest one-day carnivals in Europe and home to the UK Centre for Carnival Arts.

Many locally-based companies work with the national media, including the BBC, ITV and Sky. Luton’s close proximity to London makes it ideally placed for easy access to supply and customers, with the added advantage of lower operating costs than in the capital.

Creative industry businesses and organisations based in Luton include:

UK Centre for Carnival Arts TriStar Television Stampede Clearhead Media Bedfordshire Institute for Media, Arts and Performance

Medical, health and sport science is a growing sector in Luton, led by the University of Bedfordshire which sees this as one of its key research areas. It is expected that there will be an increase in the number of business opportunities in this area in the future.

11

Don’t take our word for it

“Following the £20m extension in The Mall Luton, our shopping centre has gone from strength to strength with further recent investment from leading retailers such as Debenhams, Top Shop, River Island, H&M and Apple attracting over 400,000 shopping visits each week. Luton is an important location for Capital & Regional, and working with the very ‘can-do’ Luton Borough Council we see further exciting opportunities for developing this vibrant town centre.”

Mark Bourgeois, Executive Director, Capital & Regional

Luton’s combination of excellent location, skills resources and infrastructure means it offers excellent opportunities for business, developers and those looking to relocate... but don’t just take our word for it!

12

Augur Group recognises Napier Park as an outstanding regeneration project due to its accessible location next to London Luton Airport coupled with exceptional transport connections. This 55-acre, mixed-use destination will include a major urban business park, retail hub and new homes to create a sustainable new community for Luton’s growing population.”

George Adamopoulos, Augur Group

“With growing passenger numbers and services to more than 100 destinations, the airport plays a vital role in connecting people and business. Work to develop the airport, starting in 2015, will increase annual passenger capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2031, create over 5,000 new jobs and is forecast to provide a major economic boost to Luton and the surrounding region, fostering opportunities for further growth for all. Luton is great for business.”

Clive Condie, Managing Director, London Luton Airport

“Barnfield College plays a fundamental role in the provision of essential

skills in the South-East Midlands economy, in particular, the provision of skills which are appropriate to the objectives outlined in the Strategic Economic Plan. As a result we have support from many local business associations and individual companies for

the development of a new high technology building, our Future Technology Centre, specialising in innovative and responsive provision for science, technology, engineering and manufacturing.

“The college looks forward to working collaboratively with partners and employers in the delivery of our respective strategic objectives.”

Senior Leadership Team, Barnfield College

Don’t take our word for it

“The University of Bedfordshire provides high-quality teaching, outstanding facilities, great support and an excellent experience, inspiring our diverse educational community to become employable and entrepreneurial global citizens.

“Ninety-two per cent of our students are in employment or further study soon after they graduate, and Bedfordshire is one of the top 12 universities in the country for turnover by graduate start-up businesses. We are proud to be at the heart of the business community, supporting and driving innovation and enterprise.”

Bill Rammell, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Bedfordshire

13

“Luton’s regeneration is key to the overall success of our business at London Luton Airport. As the leading business aviation service provider at the airport, Signature Flight Support is guided by many values including its desire to contribute positively to society and the environment in the spirit of seeking to deliver long-term sustainable value. Being an employer of choice is a fundamental part of our mission and, given that many of our employees are from the Luton area, we continue to be ardent supporters of the town’s growth and development in many forms.”Mark Johnstone, Managing Director EMEA, BBA Aviation Flight Support

“We have just celebrated a tenth year at our specialist Luton facility and look forward to another decade of success and growth. As a multinational company operating across five continents, we are grateful for the superb transport links on our doorstep. We also enjoy working with the local community and are proud to employ so many local people through our apprentice, graduate and recruitment schemes.”

Chris Bushell, Senior Vice President of Electronic Warfare, Selex ES

The Butterfield Technology Park is located in the north-east of Luton, easily accessible from both the A1 and the M1. It is a thriving and expanding community with a range of amenities in a stunning 85-acre parkland setting which makes it an attractive place to locate your business.

Work is continuing on developing the business park which caters for business and industry users and offers up to one million sq ft of low-density, mixed-use development.

The village at Butterfield is now a premium business location, securing tenants such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Total Oil, FUJIFILM SonoSite, the University of Bedfordshire and McCann Erickson. A 155-bedroom Hilton Garden Inn is located on site, offering a 24-hour business centre with excellent facilities, and a bespoke 90,000 sq ft building for MTL Instruments was completed in 2011 which includes a head office and high-tech manufacturing facility.

Butterfield also offers bespoke design-and-build solutions for a wide spectrum of business users on a leasehold or freehold basis.

The park has an outline planning consent, with approximately 300,000 sq ft of buildings having been completed to date. Fully serviced, on-site management with 24-hour guarded security and CCTV surveillance is provided.

The award-winning Innovation Centre and Business Base at Butterfield is operated by Basepoint and provides more than 100 affordable small business units.

The Basepoint team provides support for new and growing businesses, and lets all its smaller business units on a unique two-week ‘easy in, easy out’ licence agreement allowing flexibility and choice.

Think ...

Butterfield

14

Butterfield is an exceptional high-tech business park on the outskirts of Luton, incorporating the award-winning Innovation Centre and Business Base.

Key development informationLocation: Basepoint Business & Innovation Centre, 110 Great Marlings, Luton LU2 8DD

Type: Freehold commercial

Size: 90 acres (40 ha)

Contact: Adrian Schofield, Henry Boot Developments Ltd

Tell: +44(0)207 495 6419

Email: aschofield@henryboot.co.uk

Web: www.henrybootdevelopments.co.uk

Augur Group is the development team behind Napier Park in Luton, the former Vauxhall Motors manufacturing site. It has worked closely with Luton Borough Council to obtain planning for the regeneration of the 55-acre site to create a new mixed-use destination including a major urban business park and retail hub.

The park is strategically located at the heart of a new transport interchange offering unrivalled connections, just one stop from London Luton Airport on the Luton Dunstable Busway, less than 30 minutes to London via Luton Airport Parkway station and a mile from the M1. This makes it an ideal location for businesses and commuting residents alike.

Napier Park will create an exciting and vibrant community for Luton, with a wealth of facilities on the doorstep of the town, including:

Grade A specification offices Food store Retail and restaurant hub Hotel High-spec storage and distribution units Up to 625 new homes

This range of uses, together with open spaces, communal greens and play areas, will create a truly world-class sustainable community for residents, businesses and leisure users.

current development sites

Napier Park

15

Napier Park, the £400 million redevelopment of the former Vauxhall car site, is one of the South-East’s largest urban regeneration projects.

Key development informationLocation: Napier Park, Kimpton Road, Luton

Type: Mixed-use development

Size: 55 acres

Contact: George Adamopoulos, Augur Investments Limited

Tel: +44(0)207 647 9030

Email: george@augurgroup.co.uk

Web: www.napierpark.com

Twitter: @Napier_Park

The regeneration of Power Court will be achieved by a high-quality, mixed-use scheme which respects its setting adjacent to the Grade I-listed St Mary’s Church.

Taking advantage of its proximity to the expanding university and the rest of the town centre, this scheme will deliver new retail and other development in such a way that it enhances and integrates with the rest of the town centre and provides enhanced public spaces.

The site now benefits from vastly improved access. This includes the recently-completed

Luton Dunstable Busway which passes directly adjacent to the site and offers the opportunity to create a bespoke busway stop providing direct access to the airport. Also delivered is the Town Centre Transport Scheme which now completes the Luton inner ring road, providing excellent road connections to the site from all directions.

British Land, which owns the site, is working with Luton Borough Council to develop design proposals to ensure that this delivers a high-quality, mixed-use scheme which strengthens the offer of the town centre.

Think ...

Power Court

16

Power Court is an area earmarked to enhance the shopping provision for the town centre and to attract new spending power to Luton.

Key development informationLocation: Power Court, off St Mary’s Road, Luton

Type: Mixed-use development

Size: 20 acres

Contact: James Duck, The British Land Company PLC

Tel +44(0)20 7467 3511

Email: james.duck@britishland.com

Web: www.britishland.co.uk

Hightown is an exciting housing-led regeneration project immediately to the north of the town centre and main railway station, offering the potential to deliver more than 500 new homes and a range of other uses.

An expansive footbridge linking to the station and town centre, and the striking design of the recently-completed multi-storey car park, are the gateway to this new neighbourhood which is the focus for an area masterplan and delivery strategy prepared by a strong team led by consultants BDP.

The focus for both this strategy and the local neighbourhood is the conservation area along High Town Road, which dates from the 19th century and is a thriving centre made up of local convenience and other specialist shops including those with links to Luton’s hat-making heritage. The area also has a strong sense of community and an ongoing and growing reputation as a focus of arts, culture and creative industries.

The strategy’s vision is for a broad development mix of houses and flats along with key environmental improvements focused on upgrading High Town Road itself. The pedestrian environment will also be enhanced, fully exploiting opportunities

provided by completion of the Town Centre Transport Scheme which has taken considerable volumes of traffic off Midland Road and other streets within the Hightown area.

The completion of the Luton Dunstable Busway and its impressive interchange near the main station also provides excellent transport links to employment opportunities across the conurbation, including direct access to London Luton Airport. This, alongside its proximity to the town centre, makes the Hightown area an increasingly desirable residential location.

current development sites

Hightown

17

Hightown is strategically located on the fringe of the town centre and is expected to be a focus of increasing development.

Key development informationLocation: Hightown

Type: Mixed-use development

Size: 55 acres

Contact: Chris Pagdin, Luton Borough Council

Tel: +44(0)1582 546329

Email: Chris.pagdin@luton.gov.uk

Web: www.luton.gov.uk

The Mall is the 906,000 sq ft shopping centre providing extensive and contemporary shopping to the Luton catchment.

In recent years a range of new tenants and formats have been introduced, including the relocation of Marks & Spencer incorporating a very popular food hall.

In July 2010 The Mall completed its £20 million St George’s Square development, comprising 75,000 sq ft of retail units let to TK Maxx and Argos plus a further six restaurant units that front onto the square. These, along with the water feature in the square, have provided the setting for a new buzz of town centre energy and activity.

The Mall’s vision is to continue working with Luton Borough Council to further extend the shopping centre and create bigger and more modern shop units attracting prestigious new retailers; to improve the appearance of the centre through high-quality architecture and urban design; and to integrate the redevelopment of The Mall Luton with other key town centre regeneration initiatives.

The Town Centre Transport Scheme is delivering a vastly improved pedestrian environment along Guildford Street and Bute Street, offering a much enhanced walk from the station directly into The Mall.

Think ...

The Mall

18

The Mall is a premier shopping centre located in the heart of the town centre.

Key development informationLocation: The Mall

Type: Retail development

Size: 906,000 sq ft

Contact: Mark Broadhead, The Mall Luton

Tel: +44(0)1582 412636

Email: mark.broadhead@themall.co.uk

Web: www.themall.co.uk

Designed as a mixed-use development, Century Park benefits from outline planning permission for a total of 143,025 sq m across a range of unit sizes. This provides for 123,291 sq m of office, industrial and warehouse space and a 18,573 sq m hotel with 1,161 sq m of ancillary leisure together with 10,446 sq m of retail accommodation.

Developed by ProLogis, the buildings at Century Park will meet the company’s high standards of environmental sustainability. The close proximity of London Luton Airport, which has recently received planning permission to expand to 18 million passengers per year, makes it highly suitable for occupiers seeking airport-related uses, as well as for general employment purposes.

current development sites

Century Park

19

A 104-acre site to the east of London Luton Airport, Century Park is strategically located approximately 2.5 miles from Junction 10 of the M1.

Key development informationLocation: Century Park

Type: Mixed-use development

Size: 10 acres

Contact: Paul Weston, Development Prologis

Tel: +44(0)121 224 8747

Email: pweston@prologis.com

Web: www.prologis.com

The site is strategically located and presents an excellent sustainable development opportunity. The key attributes include:

Immediate proximity to the station, offering easy access to London, Bedford and beyond

Adjacent to the Luton Dunstable Busway, tying the site in with the sub-region

Just one stop away from Luton Airport Parkway and associated businesses

A major connection point between Hightown to the north and the town centre to the south

At the hub of Luton town centre’s wider regeneration and redevelopment initiatives, notably the planned Power Court scheme and improvements to The Mall

Multimodal interchange facility provides easy access to developments sites at Power Court and Napier Park.

Think ...

Station Gateway and Bute Street

20

The Luton Station Gateway area is defined by the railway to the north, Bute Street and Guildford Street to the south and west, and Church Street to the east.

Key development informationLocation: : Luton Station Gateway

Type: Mixed-use development

Size: 4.2 acres

Contact: Chris Pagdin, Luton Borough Council

Tel: +44(0)1582 546329

Email: chris.pagdin@luton.gov.uk

Web: www.luton.gov.uk

There has been a significant amount of development work in the area particularly focusing on upgrading infrastructure:

Luton Dunstable Busway (including station interchange) – Luton Borough Council – complete

Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme – Luton Borough Council – complete

Bute Street pedestrianisation project – Luton Borough Council – under construction

Travel Centre – Luton Borough Council – under construction

Station Square – Luton Borough Council – under construction

Hightown footbridge – Luton Borough Council – complete

Multi-storey car park – Luton Borough Council – complete

Thameslink platform extension works – Network Rail – complete

The Council is working with Network Rail to upgrade Luton Station into a more modern and accessible station.

current development sites

Station Gateway and Bute Street

21

The University of Bedfordshire’s student enhancement redevelopment project is now well under way, with work on a new £46 million, state-of-the-art, seven-storey library at the Luton campus on track for completion in 2015. This follows the opening of the university’s £15 million postgraduate and continuing professional development centre in 2013.

The university has a strong record of proactive support for business in Luton, working with employers across a wide range of activity including aviation, manufacturing, engineering and the creative industries. Current projects exploit the university’s expertise in business and technology innovation, process improvement and research collaborations in computer science and electronics.

Find out more at www.beds.ac.uk

Think ...

University of Bedfordshire

22

A new dawn is breaking for students in Luton, with more than £600 million being invested in education facilities.

The college is a state-of-the-art learning facility which moved to its new £56 million campus in 2012.

Features include:

200-seat, multi-function performance Eastside Theatre with computer-controlled lighting and flexible seating

Eight specialist science laboratories with banana-shaped workbenches

Spacious social area, including a restaurant and coffee shop, and an amphitheatre for outdoor performances

Leading-edge IT facilities with well-equipped classrooms featuring interactive whiteboards and high-speed wireless networks

Large sports arena, accommodating six badminton courts, spectator seating, extensive sports fields and an all-weather pitch

Superb music technology suite with specialist sound studio and five practice rooms

Top-floor art studio benefitting from natural lighting

There are some exciting developments at Barnfield College.

Gateway Services have undergone a complete refit so students can access all the information and support they need to enrol and study at the college in one place. The purpose-built, bright and cheerful student support and lounge areas ensure everyone is comfortable and confident talking to the teams.

The Solutions for Business division is continuing to expand the propositions offered to local employers. The college is well known for its excellent apprenticeship provision and the support it offers local businesses in searching for, selecting, recruiting and training their apprentices. Training offered to the incumbent workforce of local organisations is now being formalised across a wide range of skills from basic maths and English to vocational and management skills.

Find out more at www.barnfield.ac.uk

education development

Luton Sixth Form College

Barnfield College

23

Visit www.lutonsfc.ac.uk for more information.

Luton Adult Learning is a major provider of apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), English, maths and community learning.

Able to create high-quality learning provision that meets any requirement, and which can be delivered at times that work around other commitments, it has a number of projects that support both employers and individuals to find and acquire the skills they need.

Its Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ apprenticeship programme is flexible and designed to meet the

needs of employers, providing help in recruiting, funding and supporting apprentices, and success rates of apprentices completing their programmes are 20 per cent higher than the national average.

It also offers comprehensive and effective careers advice through the National Careers Service which is delivered to group or in one-to-one guidance sessions.

Visit www.lutonacl.ac.uk for more information or call 01582 490033.

Think ... education development

Luton Adult Learning

24

Think ... transport infrastructure

25

The Luton Dunstable Busway opened on 25 September 2013, running from Blackburn Road in Houghton Regis to Kimpton Road in Luton. Existing buses circulate around residential areas in Dunstable, Houghton Regis and west Luton, using bridges over main roads and intermediate access points to bypass congested east-west roads. The scheme also provides bus priority measures to serve Dunstable and Luton town centres, and improved passenger facilities on the busway and at about 180 on-street stops.

Four core services currently operate on all or part of the busway, with journey times for each at least halved, and carrying over a million passengers in the first nine months.

Some buses on the 70 service between Milton Keynes and Luton, via Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable, will also use the busway.

Luton Dunstable Busway

The final £24 million phase of the inner ring road was opened to traffic in August 2014. The road passes underneath the recently-constructed £18 million multi-storey car park (MSCP) for Luton Station and continues along Crescent Road to Crawley Green Road, the short section of which to St Mary’s Road has been dualled. The MSCP released the land used for surface level parking for the station, to make room for both the Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme and the route of the Luton Dunstable Busway (including the station interchange), as well as providing a development site to help fund future refurbishment of the station.

Luton Borough Council was named Transport Local Authority of the Year at the National Transport Awards 2014

Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme

26

Think ...

Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme

27

Junction 10a is a key gateway between the M1 and important employment areas in the south and east of the town, including the airport and Luton town centre. The roundabout is congested at peak times, and work is under way to convert this to a grade-separated junction, providing a continuous dual carriageway route from the M1 to the airport. Since late 2011, even before construction started, new jobs were created, including at the Express Newspapers group print works and at the Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Kimpton Road. Once completed, it is expected that further inward investment will take place, increasing the strategic importance of south and east Luton in providing jobs for the conurbation.

Luton Station is currently used by around 3.5 million passengers per year. However, platform lengthening for the Thameslink project in 2009/10 made the station almost inaccessible to mobility-impaired passengers.

Over the last few years the Council has been working with Network Rail and the Train Operating Company (TOC) to make positive improvements to the station and its surrounds, including a new multi-storey car park, new footbridge to Midland Road, the removal of the old Bute Street footbridge, the new bus interchange and passenger drop-off facility. However the actual station building and disability access still need to be addressed.

Significant work has already been carried out on options for a new fully-accessible bridge, and a ‘preferred’ solution has been designed by Network Rail that has the support of the TOC and the Council. Of the £10.5 million cost, £8.5 million has been identified for this project. With the new station footbridge in place, further improvements to the actual station including a new ticket office at ground floor level will be able to be progressed.

M1 Junction 10a improvements Luton Station

transport infrastructure

Economic development service

Design and production by Luton Borough Council 01582 546000

+44(0)1582 546265Fax +44(0)1582 546203 Sinead.mcnamara@luton.gov.uk www.luton.gov.uk www.thinkluton.co.uk

Luton Borough CouncilEconomic development serviceTown HallUpper George StreetLuton LU1 2BQ