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Action plan revealed for town centre facelift

Martin HeathBedfordshire political reporter
News imageMartin Heath/BBC A large patterned design on a tall wall with the words IF YOU CAN DREAM IT YOU MUST DO IT in red and white lettering. There is a single-storey glass-fronted building to the right and a two storey concrete building to the right of that, labelled HAT FACTORY ARTS CENTRE.Martin Heath/BBC
The action plan is the latest phase of the 2021 masterplan which heralded the start of a major rejuvenation project

An action plan for developing Luton town centre has been revealed.

It includes a new entrance for the railway station, more pedestrianised streets and a redesign of St George's Square.

The project will be funded by £1.7bn of public and private money.

The borough council said it hoped the plan would create "a town centre where residents and visitors alike can feel proud to live, work, study and play".

A masterplan for Luton was published in 2021 and the new action plan - approved by the borough council's executive on Monday - checks on the status of the recommendations in that plan and sets out new ideas.

One of the key elements of the 2021 documents was uncovering sections of the River Lea hidden by culverts in the town centre.

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Brick-built bridge with a river flowing through. There are stepped seating areas on either side, with grass on each level. In the foreground, there are metal poles bearing models of large birds in flight. A three-storey brick building with small windows is visible in the background.Martin Heath/BBC
The Hat Gardens is centred on a section of the River Lea which has been taken out of a culvert and made visible

A section of the river in Silver Street has been uncovered already to create Hat Gardens, a pocket park "where people can pause, relax and connect with nature in the heart of the town.

Three further areas are to be deculverted - in front of the Galaxy Centre, next to the Central Library and in Silver Street.

News imageMartin Heath/BBC An exterior wall of a shopping centre showing a montage of thousands of pictures of people arranged around a river running across the centre of the picture. There is a single-decker red and blue bus in front of the montage and people are queueing to get on the bus.Martin Heath/BBC
New artworks will be installed to complement installations such as the Covid memorial in Silver Street

Other plans for the next five years include:

  • pedestrianisation of Bute Street and Chapel Street
  • new entrance, ticket office, bridge and lifts at the train station
  • 600-capacity cultural venue called The Stage with public square
  • St Mary's Road to become a pedestrian and cycle-friendly route
  • redesign of St George's Square to allow more cafe tables

The action plan also sets out how the town will make the most of the planned Power Court Stadium, the new home of Luton Town Football Club.

It says St Mary's Church is developing plans so the churchyard will "be safe when thousands are attending games at Power Court Stadium".

There will also be a new waterside square at the western end of Power Court.

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Troy Phillips with short black hair, wearing dark glasses and red lipstick. She has a black leather jacket over a black top and is sitting in a white-walled bus shelter. The back of a bus is visible to the left.Martin Heath/BBC
Troy Phillips says work on Luton has already improved the town

Troy Phillips, a regular visitor to the town centre, said rejuvenation work had already made Luton "a thousand times better, in every way".

"It's tidy, [there are] more properties, it's a great place to be," she added.

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Iqra Bashir with long dark brown hair smiling at the camera and wearing a black and white top. She is in a white-walled bus shelter and people are visible getting on to a bus behind her.Martin Heath/BBC
Iqra Bashir, another regular visitor, said Luton was now a more "comfortable" place

Iqra Bashir, another regular visitor, said Luton was now "a more comfortable place and a convenient place to come".

"My daughter really likes it, especially for kids - it's getting much better than it used to be," she said.

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