50-680: Napier Park is a suburb of Luton , in the south of the town, in Bedfordshire , England. It is roughly bounded by Harrowden Road to the north, the Midland Main Line to the south, Luton Airport to the east, and Devon Road to the West. Napier Park is currently under construction (as of 2018), and is one of the newest suburbs of the town. Napier Park was built on the former site of the Vauxhall Motors Car Factory. The factory first operated on
100-498: A unitary authority , performing all local government functions in the borough. Luton Town Football Club , nicknamed the Hatters , due to the town's connection to hatmaking, has had several spells in the top flight of the English league as well as a Football League Cup triumph in 1988 . They play at Kenilworth Road , their home since 1905 ; planning permission for a new larger stadium
150-534: A 22.2% increase compared with 2001. In 2021, 52,566 residents (23% of the total) were aged under 16, 146,330 (65%) were aged 16 to 64, and 26,363 (12%) were aged 65 or over. Local inhabitants are known as Lutonians . Luton has seen several waves of immigration. In the early part of the 20th century, migrants from Ireland and Scotland came to the town. These were followed by South Asian and Afro-Caribbean immigrants. More recently immigrants from European countries such as Albania have made Luton their home. As
200-472: A Luton Rural parish covering the area outside the borough. Luton Rural was abolished in 1896 and its area divided into the four parishes of Hyde, Leagrave, Limbury and Stopsley. In 1928 the Leagrave and Limbury parishes were both abolished and their areas absorbed into the borough of Luton; Stopsley was similarly absorbed in 1933. Hyde remains a separate parish, now forming part of Central Bedfordshire . Luton
250-491: A cluster of residential towers, the Napier Gateway Towers. The tallest of these, Beacon Tower, will top out at 65 metres (213 ft), making it Luton's tallest building at the time of construction. There will also be shops and restaurants in the south of the area around Napier Square. Bartlett Square is also in the south of the area, named after Sir Charles John Bartlett, director and chairman of Vauxhall Motors during
300-450: A population of 225,262 at the 2021 census. Luton is on the River Lea , 32 miles (50 km) north-west of London , 18 miles (29 km) north-west of Hertford , 20 miles (32 km) south of Bedford and 23 miles (37 km) south-east of Milton Keynes . The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settlement on the river, from which Luton derives its name. Luton
350-512: A rail link under construction between Luton Airport Parkway railway station and London Luton Airport . Napier Park is part of the Crawley and Wigmore wards. The wards form part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton South and the MP is Rachel Hopkins ( Labour ). Luton Luton ( / ˈ l uː t ən / ) is a town and borough in Bedfordshire , England. The borough had
400-505: A result of this Luton has a diverse ethnic mix, with a significant population of Asian descent, mainly Pakistani (41,143 residents, 18.3%) and Bangladeshi (20,630, 9.2%). People in Asian ethnic groups accounted for 86% of Luton's Muslim population in 2021. As of the 2021 census, the White British (White English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish) population of Luton comprised less than
450-621: A similar elevation range from −17.0 °C (1.4 °F) in December 1981 and −16.7 °C (1.9 °F) in January 1963 to 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) in July 2019 and 33.8 °C (92.8 °F) in August 1990 and July 2006. Records for Rothamsted date back to 1901. The 2021 United Kingdom census showed that the borough had a population of 225,262, a 10.9% increase from the previous census in 2011 and
500-467: A third of the total (31.8%), the twelfth lowest proportion out of 318 local authorities in England and Wales and the second lowest (after Slough ) outside of London. Overall, 45.2% of Luton's population in 2021 was White (including non-British White people), down from 54.7% in 2011. In 2011 81% of the population of Luton defined themselves as British. At the 2021 census, the religious affiliation of Luton
550-577: A wholly owned subsidiary of the multinational corporation Stellantis . Its principal operation is an assembly plant located in Luton, Vauxhall Luton , which currently produces light commercial vehicles sold under the Citroën , Opel , Peugeot , Vauxhall , Fiat Professional and Toyota brands. IBC Vehicles has its roots in Bedford Vehicles , the truck and bus manufacturing subsidiary of Vauxhall. In 1986
SECTION 10
#1732855304833600-563: Is an English country house , estate and Grade I listed building originally designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam but later transformed to the designs of Robert Smirke . Luton is believed to have been founded by the Anglo-Saxons sometime in the 6th century. Its name first appears in the 8th century as Lygetun , meaning "town on the River Lea". The Domesday Book records Luton as Loitone and as Lintone . Agriculture dominated
650-643: Is recorded in the Domesday Book as Loitone and Lintone . One of the largest churches in Bedfordshire, St Mary's Church , was built in the 12th century. There are local museums which explore Luton's history in Wardown Park and Stockwood Park . Luton was once known for hatmaking and also had a large Vauxhall Motors factory. Car production at the plant began in 1905 and continued until its closure in 2002. Production of commercial vehicles continues and
700-508: The 2024 UK general election , Luton is represented in Parliament by Sarah Owen who holds Luton North and Rachel Hopkins who holds Luton South , both for Labour . Luton was an ancient parish in the Flitt hundred . The parish was the largest in Bedfordshire by area, and was subdivided into five hamlets or townships : Hyde , Leagrave , Limbury , Stopsley , and a Luton township covering
750-544: The British Isles , with generally light precipitation throughout the year. The weather is very changeable from day to day and the warming influence of the Gulf Stream makes the region mild for its latitude . The average total annual rainfall is 698 mm (27.5 in) with rain falling on 117 days of the year. The local climate around Luton is differentiated somewhat from much of South East England due to its position in
800-546: The Chiltern Hills , meaning it tends to be 1–2 degrees Celsius cooler than the surrounding towns – often flights at Luton airport , lying 160 m (525 ft) above sea level, will be suspended when marginal snow events occur, while airports at lower elevations, such as Heathrow , at 25 m (82 ft) above sea level, continue to function. Absolute temperature extremes recorded at Rothamsted Research Station, 5 miles (8 km) south south east of Luton town centre and at
850-536: The City and other parts of the country via rail and major roads such as the M1 (which serves the town from junctions 10 and 11) and the A6 . The town has three railway stations: Luton , Leagrave and Luton Airport Parkway that are served by East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services. Luton is also home to London Luton Airport , one of the major feeder airports for London and
900-467: The Leagrave area of the town. The Great Bramingham Wood surrounds this area. It is classified as ancient woodland ; records mention the wood at least 400 years ago. There are few routes through the hilly area for some miles, this has led to several major roads (including the M1 and the A6 ) and a major rail-link being constructed through the town. Luton has a temperate marine climate , like much of
950-983: The Renault Trafic and the Vauxhall Vivaro. In July 2016, the plant started building the Fiat Talento , then, in November 2016, the production of the Nissan NV300 began. The Renault Trafic III + the Renault Trucks Trafic III and its clones the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro B as well as the Nissan NV300 are transformed (body, stickers, conversion, interior of the loading zone) in France, at the Heudebouville Qstomize transformation site, by Renault Pro+. , However,
1000-518: The Second World War . Bartlett Square is the location of Hart House, a listed building, originally built as the headquarters of Vauxhall Motors before they moved to Park Town . Bartlett Square is due to be redeveloped, with many large office buildings being built. Hart House is scheduled to be converted into a hotel. Bartlett Square is also the location of one of the new stations of the Luton DART ,
1050-637: The University of Bedfordshire . A large campus of the university is in Luton town centre, with a smaller campus based on the edge of town in Putteridge Bury , an old Victorian manor house. The other campuses of the university are located in Bedford , Milton Keynes and Aylesbury . IBC Vehicles IBC Vehicles Limited is a British automotive manufacturing company based in Luton , Bedfordshire and since 2021
SECTION 20
#17328553048331100-415: The national grid rendered the 23 megawatt (MW) coal and latterly oil-fired power station redundant. The station had a single chimney and two reinforced concrete cooling towers. The power station closed in 1968; in its final year of operation it delivered 3,192 MWh of electricity to the borough. Luton Airport opened in 1938, owned and operated by the council. It is now one of the largest employers in
1150-501: The thistle is a symbol for Scotland . An alternative suggestion is that the rose was a national emblem, and the thistle represents the Marquess of Bute , who formerly owned the Manor of Luton Hoo. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that parishes could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so the ancient parish was split into a Luton parish covering the same area as the borough and
1200-566: The Bedford Vehicles van factory in Luton was reorganised as a joint venture with Isuzu . The resulting company was named IBC Vehicles ( Isuzu Bedford Company Limited ). Its first product was the Bedford Midi - a badge engineered clone of the Isuzu Fargo midsize panel van , intended to replace the ageing Bedford CF . The Suzuki -based Bedford Rascal microvan followed in 1987. In 1992
1250-887: The Fiat Talento II is transformed (body, stickers, conversion, interior of the loading zone) in Italy by Fiat Professional. At the end of 2018, the plant move the Renault Trafic, the Fiat Talento, the Nissan NV300, and the Renault Trafic-based Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro to Sandouville Renault Factory . In early 2020, in addition to the Vauxhall Vivaro , the plant started building Citroën Dispatch + Citroën SpaceTourer and Peugeot Expert + Peugeot Traveller and Toyota ProAce + Toyota ProAce Verso vans. In May 2022,
1300-719: The Frontera B 1998 - 2004. In 1998 GM bought Isuzu out of the IBC partnership and renamed the plant GMM Luton ( GM Manufacturing Luton ). General Motors sold Opel, including Vauxhall and the Luton plant, to Groupe PSA in 2017. Groupe PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in January 2021. GMM Luton produced the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro A , Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar from 2001 to 2014. The Hi-top roof versions were built in Barcelona , Spain by Renault at
1350-465: The Vauxall marque) announced plans to close its operation in Luton. There is just one tier of local government covering Luton: Luton Borough Council , which has been a unitary authority since 1997, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council . There are no civil parishes in the borough. The borough remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire . As of
1400-414: The airport, Dunstable and Houghton Regis . Hertfordshire-based bus operator Uno also run buses on their 'Dragonfly' 610 route to Hatfield, Potters Bar and Cockforsters Luton is also served by a large taxi network. As a unitary authority , Luton Borough Council is responsible for the local highways and public transport in the borough and licensing of taxis. Luton is one of the main locations of
1450-492: The area. The pre-war years, were something of an economic boom for Luton, as new industries grew and prospered. New private and council housing was built in the 1920s and 1930s, with Luton starting to incorporate nearby villages Leagrave , Limbury and Stopsley between 1928 and 1933. Post-war, a number of substantial estates of council housing were built, notably at Farley Hill , Stopsley , Limbury , Marsh Farm and Leagrave ( Hockwell Ring ). The Marsh Farm area of
1500-405: The central part of the parish including the town itself. The Luton township was made a local board district in 1850. The local board was the town's first elected local authority; previously it had been administered by the parish vestry . The town was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1876. Later in 1876 the new borough council was granted a coat of arms . The wheatsheaf was used on
1550-552: The core part of the wider Luton/Dunstable Urban Area which includes the nearby towns of Dunstable and Houghton Regis in Central Bedfordshire . The town is the most populous settlement in Bedfordshire followed by Bedford . Luton is located in a break in the eastern part of the Chiltern Hills . The Chilterns are a mixture of chalk from the Cretaceous period (about 66 – 145 million years ago) and deposits laid at
Napier Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1600-461: The crest to represent agriculture and the supply of straw used in the local hatmaking industry (the straw plaiting industry was brought to Luton by a group of Scots under the protection of Sir John Napier of Luton Hoo ). The bee is traditionally the emblem of industry and the hive represents the straw plaiting industry for which Luton was famous. The rose is from the arms of the Napier family, whereas
1650-509: The end of the First World War . Dr. John G. Dony, author of The Flora of Bedfordshire told his history students (he taught at Luton Grammar, predecessor of Luton Sixth Form College ), during the 1950s, that he had broken the last intact window of the old town hall during the 1919 riots. Local people, including many ex-servicemen, were unhappy with unemployment and had been refused the use of a local park to hold celebratory events. They stormed
1700-762: The factory produced a European version of the Isuzu MU aka Amigo 4WD called the Opel/Vauxhall Frontera Sport and the Isuzu MU Wizard aka Rodeo 4WD called the Opel/Vauxhall Frontera and a range of Renault -designed vans sold under the Opel, Vauxhall and Renault brand names. The Bedford name was dropped completely as were all of its preceding range apart from the Midi. The Frontera A was produced from 1992 to 1998 and
1750-657: The former Nissan Plant because the Luton IBC building was not high enough to accommodate the Hi-top vehicles. By 2011, the plant had produced 1.25 million vehicles since the 2001 launch, with production now down to 68,000 vehicles a year, with a capacity for 100,000. Opel/Vauxhall announced in 2011 that the 2013 Vivaro would continue production at Luton and the high roof versions and the Renault Trafic would be manufactured at Sandouville , France. Between 2015 and 2019, Renault, Opel, Vauxhall, Nissan and Fiat Professional announced that all
1800-462: The head office of Vauxhall Motors is in the village of Chalton on the northern border of the borough . London Luton Airport opened in 1938 and is now one of Britain's major airports, with three railway stations also in the town. The University of Bedfordshire was created from a merger with the University of Luton; two of its campuses are in Luton. Since 1997, Luton Borough Council has been
1850-507: The high-roof variants of the Trafic, Vivaro, NV300 and Talento will be built in Sandouville. The brands also announced that all left-hand drive variants for Renault, Opel, Nissan and Fiat Professional will be built in Sandouville. But all right-hand drive low-roof variants for Renault, Vauxhall, Nissan and Fiat Professional will be built in Luton. In August 2014, the factory began the production of
1900-553: The largest car plant in the United Kingdom in Luton, during the Second World War , it built Churchill tanks as part of the war effort . Despite heavy camouflage, the factory made Luton a target for the Luftwaffe and the town suffered a number of air raids . 107 died and there was extensive damage to the town (over 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed). The original town hall was destroyed in 1919 during Peace Day celebrations at
1950-421: The local economy at that time, and the town's population was around 700 to 800. In 1121 Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester started work on St Mary's Church in the centre of the town. The work was completed by 1137. A motte-and-bailey castle which gives its name to the modern Castle Street was built in 1139 but demolished by 1154. The hat making industry began in the 17th century and became synonymous with
2000-724: The site in 1905 after Vauxhall moved its operations from Vauxhall in London. Vauxhall Motors was a major employer in Luton for a hundred years, with a commercial vehicle plant also operating in the Dunstable area, an aftersales warehouse in Tophill , and the Vauxhall headquarters in Park Town . Production ceased on the car factory site in 2002, and the large area of the town was cleared and lay empty for over ten years. In 2014 planning permission to redevelop
2050-406: The site was granted, and construction started in the late 2010s. The new area was named Napier Park, after the Napier family, who lived in nearby Luton Hoo in the 17th and 18th century. With construction in the area expected to continue into the 2020s, the area is intended for a mix of residential, leisure, and business use. There are a few notable buildings being constructed in the area, including
Napier Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
2100-446: The south-east. A light metro people mover track, Luton DART , opened in 2023, linking the airport and Luton Airport Parkway railway station. A network of bus services run by Arriva Shires & Essex , Grant Palmer and Centrebus serves the urban area of Luton and Dunstable . A bus rapid transit route opened in 2013, called the Luton to Dunstable Busway , connecting the town with
2150-512: The southernmost points of the ice sheet during the last ice age (the Warden Hill area can be seen from much of the town). Bedfordshire had a reputation for brick making but the industry is now significantly reduced. The brickworks at Stopsley took advantage of the clay deposits in the east of the town. The source of the River Lea , part of the Thames Valley drainage basin , is in
2200-618: The town hall, setting it alight ( see Luton Town Hall ). A replacement building was completed in 1936. Luton Borough Corporation had provided the borough with electricity since the early twentieth century from Luton power station , located adjacent to the railway. Upon nationalisation of the electricity industry in 1948 ownership passed to the British Electricity Authority and later to the Central Electricity Generating Board . Electricity connections to
2250-516: The town was developed in the mid to late 1960s as a large council housing estate, mostly to house the overspill population from London . However, the estate gained a reputation for high levels of crime, poverty and unemployment, which culminated in a riot on the estate in July 1992 and another more serious riot three years later. The partial closure of the Vauxhall manufacturing plant in 2002 had negative effects for Luton, leading to increased unemployment and deprivation. In 2024, Stellantis (owner of
2300-460: The town's working population (classified 16–74 years of age by the Office for National Statistics ), 63% are employed. This figure includes students, the self-employed and those who are in part-time employment. 11% are retired, 8% look after the family or take care of the home and 5% are unemployed. Luton is situated less than 30 miles (50 km) north of the centre of London, giving it good links with
2350-509: The town. The town grew: in 1801 the population was 3,095, but by 1850 it was over 10,000 and by 1901 it was almost 39,000. Newspaper printing arrived in the town in 1854. The first public cemetery was opened in the same year and Luton was made a borough in 1876. Luton's hat trade reached its peak in the 1930s, but severely declined after the Second World War and was replaced by other industries. In 1907, Vauxhall Motors opened
2400-628: Was approved in 2019. Luton International Carnival , the largest one-day carnival in Europe, is held on the day before the last Monday in May; the Saint Patrick 's festival is held on the weekend nearest to Saint Patrick's Day as there is a large Irish community in Luton. The town also has a large Pakistani community which, along with the Irish, were attracted to employment at the Vauxhall car plant. Luton Hoo
2450-561: Was as follows: Luton's economy has traditionally been focused on several different areas of industry, including car manufacturing , engineering and millinery . However, today, Luton is moving towards a service based economy mainly in the retail and the airport sectors, although there is still a focus on light industry in the town. Notable firms with headquarters in Luton include: Notable firms with offices in Luton include: Luton's post-war and more recent industrial decline has been compared to that of similar towns in northern England. Of
2500-466: Was made a county borough in 1964, making it independent from Bedfordshire County Council . It was redesignated as a non-metropolitan district in 1974, making it once more subordinate to the county council. In 1997 the borough council was made a unitary authority, regaining its independence from the county council (which was subsequently abolished in 2009). Luton is situated 28 miles north of London and 39 miles southwest of Cambridge . The town forms
#832167