1 Welcome Welcome to Luton s public exhibition on proposals for the (formerly known as Stirling Place) project which will comprise 2.5 acres of commercial development, providing up to 2,000 jobs for local people next to Luton Airport Parkway station, off Kimpton Road. This site has designated Enterprise Zone status and will benefit the community in Luton as well as the sub-region. The purpose of this event is to provide the local community with an opportunity to view our proposals for the site, and input into the development process, before a planning application is submitted in the summer for Luton Borough Council to consider. As a significant local stakeholder in Luton, LLAL is committed to consulting the local community on all its development proposals. We would encourage you to take your time to read through the boards and provide us with your thoughts using the feedback form available. Members of the project team, including the architects, are here to answer any questions you may have. Who we are Luton (LLAL) is the company that owns Luton Airport (LTN). Our majority shareholder is Luton Borough Council, which means that LTN is effectively in the public ownership of the people of Luton. LLAL, via the airport, is a vital source of income for the Council, particularly during these challenging times with funding cuts from the Government. On an annual basis we provide a significant financial contribution to Luton Council, which is used to support and maintain spending on front-line public services across the borough, such as social care for adults and children, and on the Council s capital programme. Revenue to the Council from LLAL for 2016/17 totalled 26.9m from rent, debenture interest and payments for services and dividends. In addition, on an annual basis, we provide charitable donations to local organisations, and in 2017/18 we expect to donate 9.6 million. Supporting the Luton Investment Framework The project is the latest in a series of developments being delivered by LLAL to support the transformational 1.5 billion Luton Investment Framework which will create 18,500 much-needed new jobs, economic growth and improved life opportunities for local people over the next 20 years. Luton is Transforming www.thinkluton.co.uk Luton is Transforming www.thinkluton.co.uk www.thinkluton.co.uk Luton is Transforming A year in the life of the Luton Investment Framework 2016 A year in the life of the Luton Investment Framework 2016 A year in the life of the Luton Investment Framework 2016 Cover of the Luton Investment Framework document, available at www.luton.gov.uk Impression of proposed view of, as seen from Napier Park
2 Luton Airport Enterprise Zone Map showing the locations of the Luton Airport Enterprise Zone sites Luton Airport Enterprise Zone comprises three sites surrounding or connected to Luton Airport: Century Park, Airport Business Park and. Enterprise Zones are areas across England designated by the Government that provide tax incentives and support to businesses. They are great places to do business, especially for new and expanding firms Enterprise Zones are establishing themselves as the driving force of local economies as they unlock key development sites, consolidate infrastructure, attract business and create jobs. Current proposals related to the Luton Airport Enterprise Zone include: New Century Park: available to view online at www.llal.org.uk and a planning application is due to be made in summer 2017. Direct Air Rail Transit (DART) system: to connect Luton Airport Parkway railway station (22 minutes from St Pancras International) direct to the airport terminal. A planning application was submitted in February 2017 and the scheme is scheduled to be operational by early 2021. : another commercial development comprising around 240,000 sq ft of commercial office development and a 170-bedroom hotel, being consulted on today.
3 The Site Having acquired the whole site in 2015, most of which has been vacant for a number of years, LLAL has identified a unique opportunity to bring forward these ambitious plans to create up to 2,000 new jobs as a commercial development site, as allocated in Luton Borough Council s Local Plan. The site is located south-west of Luton Airport, and incorporates the area shown in the red line on the Google aerial image. For many years the site was used by Vauxhall Motors for manufacturing and warehousing. Hart House Business Centre was originally designed as the company s head office by architects Messrs. HB Creswell and WA Forsyth, and work began during the First World War, completing in early in 1919. Hart House was positioned on the Kimpton Road frontage as a standalone building with an existing large production building immediately to its rear. Cottages remained on the adjoining plot to its west side until 1935 when basic office buildings were constructed both there and also to the eastern side. The latter buildings, while generally in the external style of Hart House, were designed as support offices, without the grandeur of Hart House and with simplified external features and basic interiors. The unlisted extension remaining on the site today is formed of the 1935 building, the design of which was commissioned from architects Howard and Partners in 1933, and the remnants of the office complex built following the completion of the listed 1919 Hart House headquarters. The extension was used as a bank for many years, following use by Vauxhall. The headquarters building was listed in 1989 in recognition of its particular architectural interest. The remaining extension buildings to both east and west were not listed and were noted as being of no historic interest. The eastern extension was subsequently demolished to allow redevelopment, and the site is now occupied by the Daily Express print works. Image showing the boundary of (indicated by the red line)
masterplan Working closely with its shareholder Luton Council, LLAL is bringing forward a unique development opportunity at around a mile south-west of Luton Airport, right next to Luton Airport Parkway station, and just 22 minutes from St Pancras International,. 4 Development of this 2.5-acre site within the Luton Airport Enterprise Zone will be enhanced by planning permission for the fast Direct Air Rail Transit (DART) link to the airport terminal from Luton Airport Parkway station, which will itself be expanded, and will offer: New hotel up to 170 bedrooms / serviced apartments 240,000 sq ft high-quality office space Complementary retail of 6,000 sq ft On-site multi-storey car park serving the offices The location is ideally placed for access to and regional markets, via faster and improving train services, as well as the M1, Luton Airport -- the UK s fifth largest and fastest growing major airport and Luton town centre. Proposed masterplan of Just 15 minutes from the M25, and with a catchment of 23 million people within a two-hour drive, will be set within high-quality public realm and offers a gross development value in the region of 100 million. the name has been named in recognition of Vauxhall s presence in Luton. Sir Charles John Bartlett was associated for over 30 years with the company, serving for many years as managing director and ultimately as chairman. He was also chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. Sir Charles headed up Vauxhall during the particularly challenging years of the Second World War, and was knighted in recognition of his own contribution, and that of the company, to the war effort. He is particularly remembered for taking a special interest in the welfare of the workers at the factory, guaranteeing, so it is said, every man who was called up for military service a job on his return to civilian life.
4a
Community benefits 5 Our proposals will unlock this key employment site and deliver significant benefits to the community including: Up to 2,000 new local employment opportunities on the site of varying skills, levels and positions Additional employment linked to the development through local contracts such as facilities management Further temporary employment during the construction of the site Modern and flexible business space to attract inward investment and support Luton s economic growth and across the sub-region Modern hotel with local amenities and function facilities Improved rail station access New high-quality public realm linking the rail station with local businesses and residents Investment in Luton s public services and infrastructure. Proposed design of the new office buildings, set within high-quality public realm
Direct access to the new Luton Airport DART 6 Proposed new DART station at Luton Airport Parkway The four-minute transfer to Luton Airport makes one of the most airport-accessible business locations in Europe. Demand for office space 200m investment in DART by LLAL and Luton Council Luton Council s employment land review (March 2013) forecasts a significant shortfall of office space, even if all current identified supply comes forward. Planning application already submitted Procurement started Scheme scheduled to open 2021 Q1ec Demand for hotels The Luton Hotel Study (July 2015) identifies a significant shortfall in available rooms in the town, with no four-star provision at all. Even if every proposed hotel were to be built, the study reports a net requirement for an extra 1,024 rooms by 2020, and as much as 1,829 rooms by 2030. In terms of office (B1a), there is demand of up to 1.7m sq ft for the period from 20112031. And, with 63 per cent of office space built before 1970, there is a significant demand for new high-quality premises. Latest reports for the Luton market (Office Market Pulse, Lambert Smith Hampton, 2016 Q4) point to a 164 per cent increase in office space uptake since 2015. Supply continues to diminish, with around 7.8 per cent of remaining stock at grade A, and there has been a rise in prime rents.
7 Design rationale We are proposing that will have three distinct aspects across the site. The north-east part of the site will be designed largely to accommodate a new hotel and retained Hart House. The rest of the site will comprise commercial/office space matched to a wide spectrum of users and business sizes. The offices are set within high-quality public realm, linking pedestrian access routes to Parkway Station, and, in addition to train services, they are served by a new multi-storey car park on the eastern part of the site. We have appointed an expert consultant team to advise on the delivery of. Several factors were considered including: Proximity to Parkway Station and the potential for sustainable travel solutions Impact on existing buildings and business operations Environmental impact Buildability Budget Impact on utilities Minimising disruption We understand that the proposals would mean that some businesses are affected either through the need to relocate or disruption during the construction process. We are already in discussions with affected parties on an individual basis and, should we receive planning permission, we will endeavor to keep all disruption to affected parties and the community to a minimum. Further consideration Whilst we have a preferred site layout, we are still continuing to evolve the proposals. There are several other elements which we still need to consider and work up as the plans are developed to ensure they meet the requirements and needs of the existing and future community in Luton. More engagement with the local community We will continue to keep the community updated on the progress of the project throughout the planning process. In addition, the Council will be conducting a statutory consultation once the application has been submitted. Transport A transport assessment was completed for the Bartlett Square site as part of the planning application process for Napier Park. It is currently being checked to ensure that this covers LLAL s proposals if not, a new report will be prepared for the planning application. In addition to planned improvements at Parkway Station, the site will also benefit from improved road and junction improvements in Kimpton Road (currently in construction). Provide your feedback If you have any suggestions on what you think we should consider in developing our proposals for the new development, please leave us your thoughts using the feedback form available. Example of high-quality public realm design for inclusion in the project
8 Next steps Thank you for taking the time to attend this public exhibition and for taking a look at our proposals. If you have any questions about the project, do speak to a member of the project team before you leave today or feel free to contact us using the details here. If you would like to provide any feedback on the proposals, you can complete one of the feedback forms available and return this before you leave. Alternatively you can complete the form at home and return it after the event using one of our complementary Freepost envelopes or by contacting us via the details to the right. Please make sure that you submit any feedback by 21 July 2017, so that we can review all responses before preparing the final plans for submission to the Council. Anticipated timescales for the project Key dates Milestones Contact us Please feel free to contact a member of the project team via one of the following options Call us: 01582 547402 Email us: comms@llal.org.uk Complete a feedback form and hand it back to a member of the team. All of the materials shown are also available on the website alongside an opportunity to provide feedback until 21 July 2017. Please visit www.llal.org.uk/bartlett-square.html Spring 2017 Summer 2017 Late 2017 Late 2018 onwards Feedback from the public exhibition will be collated and summarised and sent to the project team for consideration. Further planning and design work will be undertaken. After finalising the proposals, the team will look to submit a planning application to Luton Borough Council as the local planning authority. We are proposing to submit a hybrid planning application which will include: detailed plans for the new hotel, and outline plans for the commercial development and car park. Following submission, the Council would consider the application and then a planning decision would be made by the development control committee. Subject to planning approval being received, work on the first phase of the development could start by late 2018. The development would be brought forward in further phases, with the first businesses scheduled to be in place by late 2020. If you know anyone that is unable to attend any of the public exhibition events or if you would like to take another look at the proposals, these exhibition boards will also be on display at Hart House Business Centre, Kimpton Road, Luton LU2 0LA on weekdays from 9am-4.30pm between 28 June and 21 July 2017. Please note that the display is for viewing only and staff at the business centre will not be able to answer questions about the proposals. If you have any questions, please contact the project team using the details above.