Council approves £124m access road linking A1081 to New Century Park

A controversial project to improve access into London Luton Airport with £124m of public money is likely to prove "more sustainable with less carbon impacts" than when first agreed in March 2019, a meeting heard.

A 1.2-mile dual carriageway has been approved by Luton borough councillors linking the A1081 with New Century Park on 235 acres of land.

The London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) scheme results in the loss of Wigmore Valley Park, which has been fiercely opposed by environmentalists.

The park is designated a county wildlife site, part of which will be swallowed up by a new business development.

An area of land in North Hertfordshire has been offered as a replacement for the park.

The Century Park access road will extend from New Airport Way round the edge of the airport to the business area.

This will consist of offices, warehousing and industrial units, as well as a hotel and cafe.

The scheme was approved by the council's development control committee in March 2019, subject to referral to the Secretary of State for housing, communities and local government, who opted not to call it in.

The proposals returned to committee on Wednesday (Feb 24th) to update councillors on the current position, after delays to a Section 106 legal agreement, and to seek confirmation the original decision can be issued.

There will be a new junction on the A1081, changes to the Airport Way roundabout and to Frank Lester Way, and a new access from Eaton Green Road.

The development also includes an extension to Wigmore pavilion to provide a cafe and community space, a new skate park and children's play area, and a replacement airport technical services building at Century Park.

Planning consultant David Gurtler told the committee: "The Section 106 agreement has now been finalised.

"It's taken a long time to deal with, partly because of the interest in the land trying to ensure title, and a number of parties are bound into this," he explained.

"The airport operator has significant interest in chunks where the development is proposed.

"LLAL, the private company submitting the application, has to be bound into it and the bank, so they've all signed it and it's now with the council for engrossment.

"It's ready for the council to sign, having been signed by the three other parties."

Climate change has moved up the agenda, according to Mr Gurtler. "The council declared a climate emergency on January 13th, 2020," he said.

"This development in the future will be more sustainable with less carbon impacts than when it was presented in March 2019.

"Air quality was considered at the time of the application and wasn't an issue."

Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor David Franks referring to "climate change and several laws being passed" suggested the plans should be subject to "a further representation to the Secretary of State", if approved.

This would be "to establish whether the government view remained that the project is a local matter which should be determined by the council".

But the application was agreed as presented, with seven votes in favour and three against.