With Vauxhall workers feeling “betrayed” by Stellantis following confirmation of the closure of its Luton van factory, it’s then good news that Luton Council have begun discussions with Stellantis to buy the land after it has closed in April: https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/news/Pages/Luton-council-furious-at-Vauxhall-closure-confirmation.aspx
This site is ideally placed to become the Green Horizons Science and Innovations Park, and save the destruction of the award-winning Wigmore Valley Park, from where it is currently planned. The Vauxhall site could also include additional airport car parking, which would ease traffic congestion within the airport, as passengers could easily transfer to the DART system.
The purchase could save the destruction of the award-winning Wigmore Valley Park from additional airport car parks, a hotel, an access road, as the proposed Green Horizons Park Science and Innovation Park would fit nicely in the existing Stellantis footprint.
With 1,100 jobs at risk due to the van plant closing and Green Horizons Park estimated to create 3,200 jobs, it’s simply a no-brainer and would give peace of mind and some stability to those who are worried about the loss of their job.
Luton Rising (owned by Luton Council) claim Green Horizons Park will be a leading European centre for innovation in mobility related industries and will become a creative hub for developing sustainability industries, research, finance and green technology and also be a catalyst for transformational growth, creating thousands of jobs in Luton and the wider region, many of them highly skilled. This would provide a ready-made solution for Vauxhall workers, and future proof the skills and jobs for tomorrow’s world.
The infrastructure, such as utilities, roads and transport connections are already established. Luton Rising have already proven that they are able to renovate and transform landmark historic Vauxhall buildings with Morton House and Hart House: https://lutonrising.org.uk/our-developments/
This would also help government promises of tackling the climate and nature emergencies. There would no longer be the requirement to introduce additional carbon and climate footprints by excavating and building over Luton’s second biggest park, when there is a ready-made brown field site just a mile away, closer to the town centre and rail and bus connections, reducing additional travel pollution.
Other plus points include meeting the criteria of the Luton and other surrounding Local Plans.
With Stellantis informing staff that the Luton Vauxhall factory will close in April, and in the same month the Department of Transport also making their decision on the expansion of Luton Airport, relocating Green Horizons Park could be just the good news the town needs.