Construction has officially started on a new £136 million neighbourhood in Luton, Bedfordshire, which will provide 292 homes and a new music venue by 2028. A ceremony was held early March 2026 to mark the start of work on the project, which is being built on the former Bute Street car park site.
The development, known as The Stage, will include 292 new apartments, with 84 of these set aside for affordable rent. Residents will also have access to a performance venue with space for 600 people, along with new places to eat and a public garden square.
According to Luton Council, the project is being built by Willmott Dixon and is expected to create around 650 jobs. The work is supported by £20 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to help boost the local economy.
Site preparation already begun on the site, which was once home to the town’s first railway station. While the project faced earlier delays because of backlogs at the Building Safety Regulator, crews are now on-site to begin the transformation. Once complete, the new buildings will serve as a major gateway for the town centre.
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