Luton Council has approved its budget for 2026/27, committing more than £30million in additional investment as it seeks to protect frontline services, support vulnerable residents and press ahead with major regeneration projects across the town.
Councillors backed the spending plans at a meeting last night (Monday 23 February), setting out a programme that includes hundreds of new homes, upgrades to parks and playgrounds and extra funding for children’s and adult social care. The authority says the package is designed to strengthen its long-term financial resilience while responding to growing demand for services.
Central to the plans is a £123.8million building and improvement programme aimed at investing in housing and the town’s future. Around 500 new homes are due to be built over the next two years.
The programme also includes buying properties to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and progressing The Stage, a new town centre development set to deliver 292 homes, including 84 affordable homes, alongside shops, business space, a performance venue and a new public square. Up to £12million has been earmarked to improve public spaces in the town centre.
Funding has also been allocated for two new schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities, responding to sustained pressure on SEND provision locally.
A further £5million will be spent on what the council describes as visible improvements in neighbourhoods. This includes refurbishing all 60 council-managed playgrounds, upgrading sports and leisure facilities, installing new traffic enforcement cameras and launching a major road safety programme around schools.
In addition, £29million is being invested to protect and improve core services, with the council stating there will be no cuts to the services residents currently receive. Extra funding will go into children’s services and adult social care, where demand remains extremely high.
Council tax will rise by 4.99 per cent, as previously indicated. The council’s Council Tax Support Scheme and Hardship Fund will increase, and a new Resilience Fund will bring together crisis support streams into a single grant for those who are eligible.
Councillor Rob Roche, portfolio holder for finance, said: “This budget comes at a time of economic uncertainty, but our priorities are clear – protect vital services and invest in Luton’s future.
“Residents have told us they care about jobs, housing, safety, cleaner streets and opportunities for young people; and this budget delivers on those.
“With this budget we aim to keep the council financially stable, support vulnerable residents, manage growing social care demand and improve the parks, roads and community facilities people rely on every day. By investing responsibly and strengthening our financial resilience, we are making every pound work harder for Luton.”
Full details of the budget are available on the council’s website. Residents who may be entitled to financial help are being encouraged to check the council’s support pages to see what assistance is available.
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