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Luton and South Bedfordshire
A summary of the Luton and South Bedfordshire Integrated Development Programme.
Vision and scale of challenge
The ambition is for Luton/South Beds to be recognized as a ‘Green Growth Area’ and a truly sustainable community. The aim is ".. to provide a quality affordable mix of housing with greener spaces with due consideration for the environment .. to sustain the economic and employment expansion. By 2021 our employment will have completed the transition from traditional industries by diversifying into high technology manufacturing and growth areas of aviation, construction, financial services and leisure and tourism. It will be a green exemplar which is also a business opportunity to grow green technologies. We aim to build strong and cohesive communities to create a strong local identity."
Luton is set to grow by 26,000 homes by 2021 (plus a further 15,000 by 2031) and 23,000 jobs (plus a further 12,000 by 2031).
A further challenge to the IDP is the timescale for the LDF, and need to identify urban extensions to accommodate growth which are potentially in the green belt, which will not reach preferred options until the summer of 2008. This has limited the progress on spatial packages in the IDP, which will be remedied by September.
Challenges
GVA growth is below the average of the region, as are levels of knowledge based employment. There are relatively low levels of economic activity and employment, with lower than the regional average of skills at all levels. There are relatively high wage levels and there is evidence of restructuring of the economy with increases in finance and business services. Parts of Luton have significant problems of both social and physical deprivation.
Governance and delivery
The IDP was produced by a partnership of Luton Borough Council, South Bedfordshire District Council and Bedfordshire County Council. This partnership has already embarked upon a Joint Core Strategy for the Luton and South Beds growth area and, relatively recently, has formed its own Local Delivery Vehicle (LDV) with the support of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). Through the work of producing the IDP a Developer and a Utility Forum have been established which is already enhancing the effectiveness of the IDP.
Packages
As indicated Luton have not yet produced the fully worked-up packages that will ultimately emerge. The short term priorities include the development of the new LDV, completion of the Local Delivery Framework (LDF), regeneration of town centres and conclusion of masterplanning and production of a clear green space strategy. In the medium term the IDP will contain fully worked up urban extension packages, and a range of key interventions to protect (from loss to housing) and enhance employment land, to develop key brownfield sites in Luton and the delivery of major transport infrastructure improvements (Junctions 11a and 10a of the M1, Northern by-pass and extensions to the guided busway). Two packages are presented at this stage.
Economic/employment package. The long term strategy includes ensuring the availability of appropriate and serviced employment land to facilitate the transformation of the economy. This will include upgrading of existing sites, identification and addition of new sites and the provision on incubation and managed workspace. The short term investment focuses around the East Luton Corridor, which is a necessary transport link to unlock sites with the potential for up to 5,000 jobs (and 7,000 homes), the provision of managed workspace and the commencement of a programme of improving existing employment and business accommodation.
Regeneration of town centres. Investment in Luton town centre in the short term is a combination of public realm improvements to Luton Station Gateway and Park street, designed to improve both investor confidence and customer experience, and completion of the Gateway Link Road, an essential transport link to allow major retail, leisure and housing development. A start is also proposed on implementing the Dunstable Town Centre masterplan.
EEDA investment is requested on all projects identified (it is understood that CIF funding on the transport schemes is unlikely to materialise). Longer term priorities and potential investment will emerge post September 2008 and the completion of the preferred options stage of the LDF.
Fit with toolkit
- clear understanding of growth agenda
- clear vision and understanding of opportunities and constraints
- very clear presentation of the totality of the investment required – public and private
- best practice in formation of Utility and Developer forums
- riming of LDF means that IDP cannot be concluded in full until summer 08
- packages presented are short term, though projects identified are relevant.
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