Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, , LU3 1RB

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

Design & Access Statement

Full Planning

April 2021

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

Contents

1.0 Introduction 1.1 Aims 1.2 Design Ethos 1.3 Location 1.4 Existing Structure 1.5 Proposal

2.0 History

3.0 Planning Guidance 3.1 Planning History

4.0 Proposed Development 4.1 Design Concept 4.2 Use 4.3 Amount 4.4 Layout and Scale 4.5 Appearance and Materials 4.6 Opening Hours 4.7 Staff 4.8 Access 4.9 Parking

5.0 Conclusion

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

1.0 Introduction

Figure 1: Site Location 1.1 Aims

This Architectural Design and Access Statement has been prepared by Architecture & Interior Design for the change of use from Sui Generis existing car park to Sui Generis Ancillary hot food takeaways (for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises).

The change of use will cover an installation of four number shipping containers on the car park which will offer Customers various options of food ranging from Burgers, Cupcakes, Desserts, Tea and Coffee.

1.2 Design Ethos

The design approach can be summarised as follows:

• To provide customers with elegant style dining experience with modern and elegant fittings throughout, but also providing customers a conveniant take out experience.

• The design should incorporate various aspects of sustainable design, and looks to new technologies and local workforce.

1.3 Location

The site is located on the corner of Road and Holland Road. Leagrave Figure 2: Location Road which is a main road leading towards the city centre and connecting throughout Luton.

Leagrave Road and Holland Road is populated with a mix of residential, retail, commercial, buildings, making it an ideal location for the proposed change of use.

The site benefits from excellent public transport links with bus services operating on Leagrave Road, leading towards the city centre and throughout Luton.

1.4 Existing Site

The existing site is currently a vacant car park which holds 27 car parking spaces. This was previously used for Britannia House which is also now vacant.

The surrounding area is well populated with mix of residential and commercial buildings, which is a well-recognised and go to place for shopping and eateries.

1.5 Proposal

The proposal is for the change of use from Sui Generis existing car park to Sui Generis Ancillary hot food takeaways (for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises).

We will be putting in place 4no. shipping containers to provide a modern elegant appearance to provide customer seating area and food prep area.

The proposed change of use will bring a unique and elegant business concept to a vacant car park which has been vacant for several months.

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

Figure 3: History 2.0 History

Luton, a large town located in the south of , .

In the 20th century, the hat trade severely declined and was replaced by more modern industries. In 1905, Vauxhall Motors opened the largest car plant in the in Luton. In 1914 Hewlett & Blondeau built an aircraft manufacturing plant in Leagrave which later became Electrolux in 1926, which set the president for further light manufacturing businesses in the town.

In 1904 councillors Asher Hucklesby and Edwin Oakley purchased the estate that became , and then donated the property to the people of Luton. Hucklesby went on to be Mayor of Luton. The main house in the park became Luton Museum.

The town had a tram system from 1908 until 1932 and the first cinema was opened in 1909. By 1914, the population reached had 50,000.

The original town hall was destroyed in 1919 during the Peace Day celebrations at the end of the First World War; local people including many ex-servicemen were unhappy with unemployment and had been refused the use of a local park to hold celebratory events, and so stormed the town hall setting it on fire. A replacement town hall was completed in 1936. opened in 1938, owned and operated by the council.

In World War II, the Vauxhall Factory built Churchill tanks as part of the war effort and was heavily camouflaged. The Vauxhall factory made Luton a target for the Luftwaffe and the town suffered a number of air raids, although only 107 people died there was extensive damage to the town and over 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed. Other industry in the town such as SKF (producing ball bearings), made a vital contribution to the war effort. Although a bomb landed at the SKF Factory no major damage was inflicted.

A major regeneration programme for the town centre is planned, which will include upgrades to the town's bus and train stations as well as general improvements the town's streetscape. St Georges Square is currently undergoing a rebuild which is due to be completed by the end of 2007. Planning applications for an extension to the existing Arndale Shopping Centre and also for a new centre in Power Court (near to St Marys Church) have been submitted. It is hoped this will breathe life into the town, which has been flagging with the decades of decline of the manufacturing industry in Great Britain, which Luton once thrived upon.

On the edge of Luton, near to Bury a new high-technology office park is under construction called . The former Vauxhall site is also to be re-developed as a mixed use site called , this is to feature housing, retail and entertainment use, including a new casino.

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

Figure 4: Street Scene

Western Edge Northern Edge

Eastern Edge Southern Edge

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

3.0 Planning Guidance

Figure 5: Proposed Floor Plan 3.1 Planning History

No previous applications have been registered.

4.0 Proposed Development

4.1 Design Concept

The overall design will be sustainable and efficient as we will be using 4no. shipping containers as the base and with the internal layout it will be elegant and effective to provide a suitable layout for a coffee shop and sandwich/burger shop.

The proposed change of use would be beneficial for the local community as it would provide for a healthy style of breakfast, sandwiches, paninis, teas and coffee, which is limited in the area.

The proposal will serve the large local community of which are residential commercial, office and shoppers with healthy fresh food and beverages.

The proposal will help regenerate the area and help inject money back into the community by providing jobs to locals and providing a healthy option of food.

4.2 Use

The existing site is currently a vacant car park which has been vacant for several months.

4.3 Amount

The amount of development on the site that is considered appropriate has been arrived at by examining and responding to the following issues:

• Using shipping containers of the highest calibre and making it sustainable.

• Ensuring the public and private realms are clearly defined and works with the existing context.

• Height and massing of the surrounding buildings.

The proposed change of use will not affect any concerns to the neighbouring properties.

4.4 Layout and Scale

The internal layout will be altered to provide the best setting for a coffee shop with dining space and kitchen preparation. Please see figure 5.

4.5 Appearance and Materials

The shipping containers will provide a sustainable and a viable appearance.

Materials used internally and will be of high standard and quality to represent quality dining experience.

Figure 6: Proposed Street View

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

4.6 Opening hours

Mon – Sun: 09:00am till 23:00pm.

4.7 Staff

Each container will seek to employ 3 no full time staff and 1 no. part time staff. Which equals 12 full time staff and 4 part time staff.

4.8 Access

Bus routes serve the surrounding local area and therefore the application site is within short reach by public transport. The closest bus route is located on Leagrave Road directly outside the site, leading towards the city centre.

It is also easily accessible by road located on the corner of Holland Road and Leagrave Road leading towards the city centre.

As the internal site is level there will be no difficulties in providing pedestrian access. The property is accessed from Holland Road.

4.9 Parking

The site currently has 20 parking spaces, the site offers a one way system to enter through Holland Road and exit through Norman Road. The proposal has removed 7 parking spaces which was vacant.

Vacant Car Park at Holland Road, Luton, LU3 1RB

5.0 Conclusion

The proposal for the change of use from Sui Generis existing car park to Sui Generis Ancillary hot food takeaways (for the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises), we believe is a great addition to the local community as it will add some character and life back into the currently eye sore redundant car park.

This proposal will be economically viable for the local area as it is well populated with a mix use of buildings, from retail, residential, office, educational in a well populated area.

The proposal will provide a family friendly and unique experience with a new concept which is sustainable and viable by using 4no. containers, which is great and long lasting. The proposal highlights that it will have a one way system to make the whole experience for the customers a wonderful one.

Being located close to city centre the site is close to many attraction sites and retail businesses.

The changes to the existing vacant parking would be very beneficial as there are 27 parking spaces available and the proposal will only take a maximum of 7 parking spaces. This proposal is very viable and sustainable which is great for the local community and for the Country in general as we need more business concepts which provides betterment to the environment. This would be very successful in this vicinity which will only add as a positive project to help bring up the surrounding area. We feel that all the requirements have been met and give a positive result to this proposal.