Plans for New Century Park approved

Plans for a new key employment site that will bring up to 3,200 new jobs to the south-eastern edge of Luton at New Century Park have been backed by the council’s Development Control committee.

London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL) has received outline permission to deliver 70 acres of commercial development, facilitated by a new 1.6-mile access road which has full approval, as part of the ongoing £1.5bn transformation of Luton.

There has been planning permission for commercial development at Century Park for more than 20 years, but this was not delivered by the previous landowner due to the difficulty of providing access.

The site was acquired by the council’s airport company in 2015 and has become part of the new London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone, supported by SEMLEP, which altogether will deliver up to 7,200 new jobs and inward investment to support economic growth across the sub-region.

The application includes investment in improved facilities in the northern section of Wigmore Valley Park, including new play and skate areas, refurbished Wigmore pavilion and replacement area of public open space.

The decision of the council’s development control committee will now be referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who has the power to consider the matter.

Robin Porter, Chief Operations Officer of LLAL, said: “This is the latest exciting development in the continuing delivery of the Luton Investment Framework which is already well on track to exceed its target to bring £1.5bn into the borough over 20 years and improve employment prospects and outcomes for local people.

“New Century Park will help attract much-needed new jobs and is a key part of the strategy aimed at securing a better future for residents of Luton and also the surrounding area.”

The challenge of how to provide access to Century Park had long stalled this important source of jobs.

The Century Park Access Road will run from a new roundabout on the A1081, and around the northern and eastern perimeter of London Luton Airport. 

Work on improvements to Wigmore Valley Park, and to deliver the replacement public open space, is scheduled to start later this year and complete in around 18 months.

Work on the first phase of the road is scheduled to begin within 12 months, and conclude by 2021.

Commercial development will be brought forward in phases. All of the development and the replacement public open space will be within the borough of Luton.

Mr Porter explained how the New Century Park scheme is also now set in the context of LLAL’s wider plans to deliver long-term expansion of London Luton Airport.

He said: “We recently confirmed our preferred option for proposed development of the airport through delivery of a second terminal to the north of the runway, and are planning a statutory consultation in autumn this year before submitting a Development Consent Order application to the Government.

“At that point we will be able to present details of the expansion proposal, our strategies to minimise and mitigate impacts on the environment and also how development of New Century Park can be brought forward as part of our ambitious and exciting plans over the coming years.”

ENDS