A business case for “a beast of a road” has been approved by Central Bedfordshire Council’s executive.
The M1/A6 link road connects junction 11a of the motorway with Barton Road, north of Luton, and includes a rail freight interchange.
The Department for Transport’s (DfT) local growth funding will be released via the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) once the documents are approved. The 2.75-mile link road is forecast to cost £61.5m, of which £32.75m has been secured from the Department of Transport (DfT). CBC describes it as “a new strategic road that will create a northern Luton bypass, connecting with the M1/A5 link road”.
The road would be part dual carriageway to a planned rail freight interchange at Sundon Park, and single carriageway connecting to the A6. “The link road will bring with it opportunities for housing, employment and leisure activities,” according to CBC.
Conservative Caddington councillor and executive member for regeneration and planning Kevin Collins explained: “The DfT’s local growth funding will be released by SEMLEP once the business case is approved.
“Permission is sought to submit the M1/A6 link road full business case to the Secretary of State for formal sign off.
“That will include a commitment by CBC to forward fund the costs of delivering the link road beyond the local growth funding.
“The business case will be published as a public document following submission.
“Comments can be submitted to the DfT for its consideration before a decision is made.
“This council is advancing talks over a legal agreement to secure the recovery of forward funding from the rail freight interchange and from house builders.
“Any project of this size comes with financial risk, but that’s prudently allowed for within the financial calculations, and will be managed as tightly as possible within the legal agreements.”
Independent Toddington councillor Silvia Collins told the executive: “I have deep concerns over the road.
“One of these is how CBC can justify spending public money to forward fund the remaining portion of the cost without knowing how we can get it back from developers and the rail freight interchange,” she said.
“I’m delighted to read they’ll not be allowed to hold this council to ransom and construction won’t happen until there’s a legally binding agreement with the consortium parties, along with other contractual protections.
“And if this is not forthcoming in the appropriate time frame then the government funding will be returned to the DfT.
“So reluctantly I accept if we have to have this beast of a road at least this is good news.
“The road and its funding has been inextricably linked with what development will be proposed for land north of Luton.
“How will we deliver for our residents and how will we maximise the affordable housing which comes out of this agreement?” she asked.
“It’s currently a maximum of 720 units which at best is less than a third of what we’d expect from a policy compliant development of this size, and that’s worrying.”
Independent Toddington councillor Mary Walsh said: “My main concerns are we’re putting ourselves at financial risk and I don’t see anything in this to tell me it isn’t a reckless step to take.
“There’s no mention of connecting across Network Rail. The cost will be far exceeding that which has been put forward.”
Conservative Dunstable Watling councillor Nigel Young said: “I’m delighted to see the safeguards being put in place, and it’s a rational judgement to proceed with the business case and this vital piece of east west infrastructure.”
