Luton’s transformation journey 2016 and beyond www.luton.gov.uk/Luton2040 LUTON’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY 2016 AND BEYOND 2 It has been a really eventful and productive time since the Luton Investment Framework (LIF) launched almost four years ago with so many positive developments in Luton and I am pleased to present the review of everything that has been achieved to date and as we prepare to move to our new vision of Luton 2040. We haven’t achieved this alone though – the council The following pages are a reflective look over the last came together with partners and investors – all four years of the LIF – some projects, initiatives and dedicated in their aim to transform Luton. Together major achievements have been reached. You will also we were successful in securing more than £1.3 billion hear from people about how the LIF has made a real of investment into the town with a further £3.2 billion difference to their lives. scheduled which will continue to boost the local economy and create thousands of jobs for local people. It is also a chance to highlight how the commission works and its most important role in continuing to The investment also resulted in the building of much- improve the lives of people in Luton. needed new homes, new schools, investment for skills and the arts. The tangible difference to the wellbeing of the people of the town was clear and a noticeable increase in prosperity. Two years ago the town had the largest average increase in real wages anywhere in the country and private sector jobs grew at the fastest rate. We are really proud of these achievements but there are still gaps – not everyone is experiencing the benefits. As a result the council set up an Inclusive Growth Commission in December 2018 to look into how we could make sure these gaps disappear and make sure no one would miss out or be left behind as Luton continued Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE to progress. Leader of Luton Council Contents 3 Luton Investment Framework - The story so far... 4 Building economic growth and prosperity 6 Developing quality homes and infrastructure 8 Enhancing skills and education 10 Luton Investment Framework achievements 12 Improving health and wellbeing 16 Supporting safe, strong and cohesive communities 20 Transition to Luton 2040 23 LUTON’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY 2016 AND BEYOND LUTON’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY 2016 AND BEYOND Luton Investment Framework The story so far… Since 2016, the LIF has delivered significant levels of economic growth and investment in Luton. The LIF has already surpassed its target to generate £1.5 billion of inward investment and is now on course to deliver a total of £4.5 billion to the local economy. This investment has already led to the creation of thousands of new and well-paid jobs and excellent progress is being made on delivering 1,700 quality and affordable homes for residents. The LIF has also supported several key developments and infrastructure projects that are helping to transform the town. These include the London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone, the Luton Dart and the successful applications for Power Court and Newlands Park developments. 4 The LIF has also made a noticeable difference to the opportunities of our people. Secondary school students The commission considered a wealth of evidence, throughout Luton have benefitted from 16x16. It has provided by Luton Council’s Business Intelligence Unit, also supported skills progression through a new adult other local authorities and a range of other partner skills course Passport to Employment, the development organisations and think tanks. This evidence centred of new STEM facilities and a Construction Skills around six key lines of enquiry: skills; productivity; Academy. economic activity and community enterprise; equality of opportunities and equality of outcomes; mental health and wellbeing; and destination Luton. The commission also carried out extensive engagement with residents and key stakeholders in Luton around the six key lines of enquiry. This process included several roundtable discussions with representatives from businesses, the voluntary sector, education and health providers and communities in Luton. The commission also carried out its own far-reaching consultation, including conversations with residents at public locations such as The Mall and Luton and Dunstable Hospital. The consultation also included more than 460 written responses from residents. The commission identified a series of significant challenges in Luton. These included the impact of poverty on life chances and wellbeing for residents Following this success, the Luton Inclusive Growth as well as skills shortages in some key sectors and Commission was established in 2018 to ensure that all barriers to employment for some groups within Luton. of our residents could benefit from economic growth. In addition, the commission identified key mental The commission was chaired by Professor Sir Les Ebdon and physical health challenges such as obesity, which CBE DL and included eight leading figures representing have an impact on employment and productivity, and different parts of the town, including education, health, specific challenges around the town centre offer and business and the voluntary and community sectors. perceptions of safety in Luton. The final report of the commission outlined 12 The Inclusive Growth Commission launched it’s final ambitions for Luton, which focussed on developing report in October 2019 to an audience of stakeholders a productive place, collaborative communities and and community representatives from across the town. happy, healthy and successful people. The 12 ambitions At this event the commission set out the 12 ambitions 5 included recommendations around adopting a local for Luton and the important role that everyone in the wealth building approach to procurement and measures town can play in making these ambitions a reality. to make Luton a smart city and an attractive location for high value businesses to locate. The report also LIF has stimulated Luton’s growth and the council are contained recommendations to make Luton a real living now building on the successes of the last three years, wage town and establish a flexible labour market for some of which are highlighted in the following pages. employees as well as developing approaches to tackle poverty and improve digital skills. LUTON’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY 2016 AND BEYOND LUTON’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY 2016 AND BEYOND Building economic growth and prosperity Luton, with its unrivalled combination of superb infrastructure, great access and a skilled workforce, is one of the UK’s best opportunities when it comes to business and investment. Investment in airport facilities, new infrastructure projects, the provision of an accelerated house-building programme and development of employment sites across Luton has meant new construction jobs opening up opportunities for residents. £1.3 BILLION OF INVESTMENT ALREADY SECURED SINCE 2016 WITH A FURTHER 30% OF AIRPORT PASSENGERS WERE £3.2 BILLION FROM BEDFORDSHIRE, HERTFORDSHIRE INVESTMENT SCHEDULED AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE IN 2018 LTN PASSENGER NUMBERS ONE NEW HOTEL FAST JOB REACHED 17M IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD COMPLETED GROWTH TO APRIL 2019 FOUR HOTELS IN PROGRESS AND HIGHER WAGES 6 LLA Airport Vision and DCO London Luton Airport (LLAL) published the LLAL vision document in December 2017 and carried out a non- statutory consultation in summer 2018. Following this a draft layout for the proposed development was announced in February 2019. Consultation on this commenced in autumn 2019 ahead of the planned Development Consent Order (DCO) submission by mid- 2020. CASE STUDY - London Luton Airport - growth to 18 million passengers Throughout the £160m transformation programme at London Luton Airport, passenger numbers have London Luton Airport continued to increase year on year. Improvements to the airport have included: In April 2019, 17m passengers had flown through the a complete re-design of the terminal bringing new airport in the past 12 months, an increase from 13m shops, restaurants and upgrade to transport links in June 2016. Civil Aviation Authority figures in 2018 new dual carriageway access road show that there has also been a significant increase in passengers from the local area, with five million re-designed bus interchange now coming from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Luton based construction firm Ryebridge were awarded Buckinghamshire. a £7m contract to create four new aircraft stands and Current estimates show that the current capacity of construct a new taxiway extension to help increase 18m passengers per year will be reached by 2021/22. airport capacity and improve efficiency of aircraft movements. London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL) Town centre development developments Work to improve the town centre and develop a new masterplan is now underway. Avison Young have been Century Park and access road appointed to lead this work. An extensive stakeholder Outline planning permission has been granted to deliver engagement plan including a detailed public consultation 70 acres of commercial development at New Century will take place in 2020. Park, facilitated by a new 1.6-mile access road, which has full approval. This new key development site will create up to 3,200 new jobs. Bartlett Square Planning permission has been granted for this £100m key employment site, which includes a mixed commercial development at Kimpton Road including a new hotel, flexible and high-quality office space, retail and a multi- storey car park. Butterfield Technology Park Permissible planning uses for the site have been widened enabling development of the site. Construction of the second phase commenced in January 2019 on the speculative development consisting of 83,000 sq. ft. (total of 10 units) of high-quality industrial, storage and distribution space. Napier Gateway Two developers are currently working on the Napier Purple flag 7 Gateway site. Redrow commenced work in 2017 to build The town centre was awarded Purple Flag status for 520 new homes alongside public open spaces including 2018/19.