A landmark £136 million mixed-use regeneration project is set to transform the centre of a London commuter town.
Construction company Willmott Dixon has been awarded a contract to deliver ‘The Stage’ in the heart of Luton.
The scheme is made up of 292 high-quality apartments (including 84 affordable rental homes), commercial units, a multi-purpose venue with food and beverage outlets and a new public garden square.
The project is backed by £20 million from the Government’s Local Regeneration Fund and represents a crucial element of the Luton Town Centre Masterplan, an extensive urban renewal initiative.
Situated close to key transport links, including Luton rail station, the bus interchange, and taxi rank, The Stage is well-positioned to become one of Luton’s most accessible town centre hubs.
Trains from Luton station take residents into central London in roughly half an hour, arriving at St Pancras station, and also take travellers to Luton airport in just a few minutes, making the town a convenient spot for those working in the capital.
But despite its convenient transport connections, Luton’s reputation leaves much to be desired.
Earlier this year, mortgage lender Pepper Money crowned Luton as the worst commuter town in the UK.
The research looked at property and rental prices, commuter times, travel costs, average salaries and quality of life, and awarded Luton an index score of 114 out of a possible 469 points, earning it the title of the UK’s worst commuter town.
Property prices in Luton
According to Rightmove, the average house price in Luton over the past year is £323,545, considerably below the Bedfordshire average of £370,957.
The majority of properties sold were semi-detached, selling for an average price of £342,064.
Terraced properties sold for an average of £277,120, with detached properties fetching £480,301.
Overall, Luton property prices were 3% up on the previous year and 3% up on the 2022 peak of £314,184.
What locals say about Luton
Many locals have shared their gripes with the unpopular commuter town on Reddit.
‘Luton is not a pretty town, it’s not leafy suburbia like St Alban’s or many of the other towns nearby,’ wrote one user.
‘As it is frankly a pretty ugly place, if you could afford to live in any of the pretty market towns and villages also served by train to London then you won’t pick Luton.’
However, they added: ‘There are some nice places. Wardown park and Stockwood park, Luton Hoo. And there is some nice countryside just outside.’
Another resident who has lived in Luton for 35 years said: ‘Where it lets itself down are on two points. One – it is so very full of litter. I have picked litter up as part of litter events, and the very next day it is back. It’s all over the town and makes it look like a tip.
‘Second – there isn’t much to do here for leisure. In the 90s there were a few nightclubs and bars but now there is nothing apart from the odd decent pub. I have probably been out for a meal with my wife four or five times in 15 years in Luton. We usually drive 10 minutes to Hitchin or Harpenden.’
Others had less insightful thoughts, claiming on the Reddit thread ‘it’s famous for being a depressing dump’ and ‘it’s notorious for being terrible.’
But Luton has redeeming features too, including some interesting contributions to local history.
In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon at country house Luton Hoo, and Sir Winston Churchill gave a speech at that very house the following year, thanking the public for their support in World War Two.
Stanley Kubrick filmed the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman there too.
Since 1976, the annual Luton International Carnival has taken place in the area, inspired by African-Caribbean culture.
Of the upcoming regeneration project, Stewart Brundell, chief operating officer at Willmott Dixon’s construction division, said: ‘The Stage represents exactly the type of comprehensive urban regeneration that can revitalise town centres and create lasting positive impact for communities.
‘This development will provide high-quality homes, stimulate local economic activity, and create enhanced public spaces that will benefit residents, workers, and visitors for generations to come. ‘
And Councillor James Taylor commented: ‘This is a crucial element of the Town Centre Masterplan and supports our mission to eradicate poverty in Luton.
‘Improving this gateway to the town will help create a more positive first impression, making it more welcoming for visitors, workers, and families, with enhanced public spaces, air quality, and connectivity.’
Willmott Dixon plans to commence construction in January next year.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Headteacher sacked after leaving alcohol in reach of SEND pupils
MORE: Anarcho-punk gig dampened down by nightmare flood now venue needs help
MORE: The London Underground line where rent prices are soaring by more than 40%
