Out-Law News 1 min. read
04 Nov 2011, 5:18 pm
Luton Borough Council together with developer Prologis have been successful in their bid for the funding, awarded by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), which will be used to make infrastructure improvements to unlock further development surrounding London Luton Airport.
The money will be used to fund improvement works at junction 10a of the M1.
“Luton’s RGF success is a further vote of confidence from BIS in the power of airports to generate jobs and growth around them. The road scheme that this funding unlocks will benefit Prologis’ Century Park to the east of London Luton Airport, and further development at Stirling Place, near Luton Airport Parkway Station. Airports are good for growth, and BIS knows it,” said Jonathan Riley, planning expert and aviation specialist at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com.
The infrastructure improvements are needed to allow any further developments to go ahead in the area. The Highways Agency has issued holding directives on many development sites in Luton and has instructed the council not to grant planning permission because of concerns over traffic levels at Junction 10a, the Council said.
Luton Borough Council has published its preferred plan for the new infrastructure scheme, and a community consultation is currently in progress. Following this, the Council has said it will apply for a Development Consent Order to gain the necessary planning consents.
A number of business developments are currently planned for the areas surrounding Luton Airport. It is hoped that the proposed improvements to the junction will facilitate these developments.
The funding means that Richard Desmond's proposed 'media hub' will now be able to go ahead. Desmond plans to relocate all the staff from his Printers Company in Docklands to a new, purpose built, 120,000 square foot office building in Luton. However, his proposals were rejected in the summer due to the area's poor infrastructure.
