Halcrow to examine case for Luton Bypass

Bedfordshire County Council, Luton Borough Council and the Government Office for the East of England have appointed Halcrow to examine whether there is a need for a bypass along the northern edge of Luton, from the M1 at Chalton to the A505 at Stopsley.

The London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Transport Study and the Milton Keynes/South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy (MKSM) have identified that such a road could exist – and could address a number of important transport and development issues.

Roger Green, Halcrow’s project manager explains “A line for such a road has been safeguarded since the early 1990s and the possibility of it being built was acknowledged in the Luton Dunstable Local Transport Plan. However, the implications of building a Luton Northern Bypass have not been fully examined. Until such time as all the facts are known and considered, the commitment to proceed with the bypass will not be included within the local transport strategy or any other policy document.”

In order to understand if a Northern Bypass is really needed, Halcrow will be examining

the impact that such a road might have within its immediate vicinity
the benefits or problems it might create, through changing traffic activity in the area
the relationship between the Bypass and the Growth Area proposals in the MKSM and the implications for any potential new development on the northern edge of Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis
Following consultations with the stakeholders and public, Halcrow’s findings and recommendations for the way forward will be made at the end of summer 2005.

Details on the bypass may be found on the Luton Bypass website: www.luton-northern-bypass.com

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