Luton hat-making site which supplies Peaky Blinders to be redeveloped into housing

But fans of the popular programme can relax as family hat making business Olney Headware Limited intends to relocate in the town.

The project involves the conversion of Olney's hat factory on Old Bedford Road and a nearby empty office building into 31 apartments, according to a report to the borough council’s development control committee.

“This is a three-storey hat factory situated on the eastern side of Old Bedford Road and nestled between Clarendon Road to the north and Reginald Street to the south,” said principal planning officer Graham Dore.

“A two-storey office building, formerly accommodating the charity Signposts, is on the southern side of the site.

“The plans are to build 31 flats through the conversion and extension of the factory premises and building a new block facing Old Bedford Road."

Signposts left the empty office building in November 2019, added Mr Dore.

“It remains the intention of Olney Headware Limited to downsize and relocate within the borough now the building no longer suits the company’s purposes.

“The application comprises an important piece of regeneration within the locality, and the revised scheme is considered a high quality design.

“It includes 21 two-bed apartments for which there’s an identified need in the borough, while ten one-bedroom flats are considered to be an important provision.”

Some buildings on the site will be demolished, according to the report to councillors, while 20 parking spaces and 15 for cycle storage will be provided.

“It’s noted that the original building was built in the years preceding World War One and was then extended to the east in 1984,” said the report.

“It’s unclear when the secondary two-storey office building which accommodated Signposts was first built, but this was extended in 1990.

“Olney Headware Limited has occupied the site for the lifetime of the existing building.

“The firm has struggled to compete with undercutting companies, in recent years, from countries such as China.

“It’s now limited to a more artisanal operation, for instance providing the hats for the TV programme Peaky Blinders,” added the report.

“The current premises is considerably underutilised and the company can no longer substantiate keeping it.”

The 1980s extension will be knocked down to make way for a new four-story block containing 11 flats.

Converting the main building and adding an extra storey provides a further 15 flats, while a three-storey block facing the entrance to the site will contain the remaining five apartments.

Councillors unanimously approved the development.