Luton is faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to regenerate our town centre with two major regeneration schemes at Power Court and Newlands Park. Together they will transform our town, boosting the local economy by £250million a year and creating 10,000 new jobs. And, importantly, they will act as a catalyst for further regeneration.
The two schemes – from Luton Town Football Club’s property arm 2020 Developments Ltd – include a 17,500-seat stadium, a 1,800-capacity music venue, bars, restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities, prestige office space and high-end retail that does not currently exist in Luton.
However, despite the overwhelming support – including a UK planning record, 11,000 people who wrote in support to the council at the consultation stage back in 2016 – these plans are being delayed by a legal challenge. Capital & Regional, the owners of The Mall shopping centre, have applied by to the High Court for a judicial review, which could scupper hopes of a bright new future for our town and cost Luton taxpayers up to £1million to defend in court.
With a General Election coming up on December 12, we have written to all the local candidates to become the Member of Parliament for both Luton South and Luton North, asking for their stance on these proposals.
We are a strictly apolitical community group so we will publish one unedited response per day, released in the order they were received by us. First up is Garry Warren, the Brexit Party candidate for Luton South….
Garry Warren, the Brexit Party candidate for Luton South
I have closely followed the plans for the new Luton Town FC stadium for some time, being a keen supporter of the club! I am very much supportive of the plans for the new stadium and the plans for Newlands Park. Luton deserves (and requires) both developments.