Central Bedfordshire is to benefit from £32.7 million in Government funding to help provide a vital new link road which will enhance accessibility and ease congestion in North Luton, as announced by Roads Minister Baroness Vere last month.

The project, which is supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) and is being led by Central Bedfordshire Council and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), will see the construction of a new 2.75-mile road link between Junction 11a of the M11 and the A6, forming a north-western bypass for Luton.

The new road will connect the east and west of North Luton, thereby opening the area up to economic growth and easing the transport of goods between the M1 and Midlands. It will also support the development of up to 3,600 new homes and around 2,800 new jobs.

The new scheme will also reduce congestion in North Luton communities, improving journey times, air quality and road safety.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “Residents in Bedfordshire deserve quicker and easier journeys and I know many have been frustrated by poor east-west connections north of Luton.

“That’s why I’m pleased to be backing the new link road, which will support the construction of new homes and jobs, drastically improve accessibility and make the area more attractive to new business.”

Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Cllr Richard Wenham, commented: “We are delighted to have secured funding from the Department for Transport for this key link road, which will deliver improved east-west connectivity across Central Bedfordshire and the wider area and facilitate the delivery of up to 3,600 new homes and a Rail Freight Interchange, which are important in meeting a wider housing need and strengthening our economic offer.”

The announcement comes as the Government continues its drive to build back better from the pandemic and level up transport links to boost regional economies right across the country.

Construction on the road is due to start in January 2022, with a completion date of January 2024.

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