Plans for Luton Rugby Club to relocate to a new, state-of-the-art facility outside of the town have been recommended for approval with a council saying it has “strong reason to believe” that a “significant number” of 2,742 planning objections to the move may be illegitimate.
Central Bedforsdhire Council (CBC) has referred to Bedfordshire Police their suspicions that the objections in question may not have been made by the individuals whose names were registered.
In a paper for its Development Management Committee, the council said is has: “strong reason to believe that a significant number of the objections received may not be legitimate. The Council believe that significant number of the objections received may not have been made by the person whose name is registered to the objection.
“The council have referred this matter to the police to investigate. No investigation has yet taken place by the police, however the council will continue to support the police if and when the matter is investigated.”
Despite the referral to the police, the council has emphasised that it will continue to assess the content rather than the volume of the objections when determining the planning application for the rugby club’s relocation to a new site in Lower Sundon.
There, Luton Rugby Club, in partnership with Forte Developments Limited, is seeking to transform a 7.9-hectare agricultural site into a modern sports facility. The plan includes three full-sized rugby pitches, two junior pitches, floodlighting, a clubhouse with changing rooms, fitness and physio suites, spectator seating, and dining facilities. A total of 152 car parking spaces are also proposed.
The rugby club initially submitted a planning application in 2019 but it was withdrawn following feedback collected during an initial consultation to allow more time to consider potential revisions. A second round of public consultation was undertaken in 2022.
A subsequent pre-application consultation report stated: “Luton Rugby Football Club has been looking to move from its current site for more than 5 years. The Club’s current facilities on Newlands Road, Luton, are more than 50 years old and need significant updating to bring them up to the modern standards required by Sport England.
“The club cannot afford these improvements and is therefore looking to generate income from the sale and redevelopment of its existing site to fund a move to a new site with modern facilities.”
Aside from the matter referred to the police, the proposed rugby club relocation has already faced stiff opposition with legitimate concerns raised by rival clubs and local authorities.
Sundon Parish Council and Chalton Parish Council have voiced strong opposition, citing issues including traffic congestion, the environmental impact, flood risks and heritage preservation of the nearby Grade I-listed St. Mary the Virgin Church, which date back to the 13th century.
In one objection letter, dated March 2024, Sorcha Buckingham, Clerk of Chalton Parish Council, voiced strong concerns, saying that though they “continue to see minor changes by the developer in attempts to satisfy the concerns of the local communities,” the parish council believes that “none of the updates to the proposal have ever reduced the impact” of the proposed development.
Luton Rugby Club has argued that its relocation is critical for securing its future and providing enhanced sports facilities for the community and has committed to working closely with CBC to minimise any disruption.
Chalton Parish Council has, however, challenged the justification for the development based on Luton RFC’s financial concerns, with Ms Buckingham’s letter adding: “The need for it [Luton RFC] to become profitable and sustainable is not something that should be considered in the planning decision process.”
Jon Gilbert, chairman of rival rugby club Dunstablians RFC, has expressed strong opposition to the proposal, also highlighting concerns about the use of green belt land, while questioning whether Luton RFC’s financial issues justified the development.
“The applicant claims that Luton RFC’s failure to find suitable land within Luton Borough Council’s own boundaries and the club’s failing fortunes provide a sufficiently strong case to allow the release of green belt land outside of Luton within the borders of a neighbouring authority. We believe that it is not in the public’s interest for CBC to hand over coveted green belt land so that Luton RFC are able to recover its fortunes,” Gilbert stated in an objection letter.
Dunstablians RFC has called on CBC to refuse the application and urged Luton Council to find a more suitable site within their own boundaries for Luton RFC.
CBC has acknowledged that the proposed development constitutes “inappropriate development” in the green belt but argued that “very special circumstances” may justify its approval.
The planning application is set for a decision by CBC’s Development Management Committee on Wednesday, February 12.
Be the first to comment