Plans approved for 169 new flats in High Town

Applicant Burr Street Limited intends to build 68 one-bed, 76 two-bed and 24 three-bed flats, as well as a four-bed home, with parking and cycle storage.

The site at 4-11 Burr Street is currently occupied by industrial and commercial buildings, which include the Bedfordian Business School, Fountain House Chapel and a vehicle MOT and servicing depot.

The proposals were resubmitted after a previous scheme for 179 properties, including 88 one-bed and 66 two-bedroom flats, was refused (see previous story here) following a deferral by the council’s development control committee.

A subsequent appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was lost in June.

An inspector agreed with councillors’ concerns over the applicant’s failure to provide an acceptable housing mix.

Other reasons for refusal were a lack of an affordable housing provision and parking issues.

The current application has moved significantly from this "unacceptable" position, according to an officer's report to the committee.

“It offers a nine per cent increase in the provision of larger homes and 15 per cent since the plans were first submitted in 2018,” said the report.

Principal planning officer Graham Dore said: “The mix of housing has been significantly improved to the requirements of the borough.”

Conservative Bramingham councillor Gilbert Campbell asked: “When are we going to stop with these one-bedroom flats?

“There are 68 one-bed flats out of 169 units. We talk about family properties and then have one-bed flats.

“It’s unbelievable that we’re still doing it. We need to stop.”

Labour Farley councillor Dave Taylor, who chairs the committee, replied: “You’ve got to look at the development.

“We can’t stop one-bed flats as long as there’s a mixture that’s adequate and acceptable.”

Labour South councillor David Agbley said: “In Luton, there are a lot of families and we need two-bed, three-bed and four-bedroom houses.

“One-bedrooms have been over subscribed. If we can put to developers what is really needed in this town is family homes.”

Councillor Taylor replied: “With the applications we’ve seen in the last few months there’s been a decrease in one-bed flats and a steady increase in two-bed, three-bed and four-bedroom properties.”

A statement from the applicant’s agent said: “This provides a substantially improved mix of housing from the initial discussion with the council.

“It now offers 60 per cent larger homes overall and also no studio apartments.

“We accept that Luton needs large units, but not in this location. The demand is from first-time buyers.

“If we believed there was more benefit in offering large family units we would have done so by now.

“Should this second positive recommendation be overturned, we’ll be forced to abandon this site.

“This will remain a commercial area indefinitely.

“We hope we can regenerate the High Town area of Luton with a scheme the council can showcase.”

Councillors approved the development with ten votes in favour and one against.