Houghton Regis Town Centre Master Plan, UK

The Milton Keynes & South Midlands (MKMS) Growth Area strategy calls for up to 26,000 new housing units to be constructed within Luton and South Bedfordshire. In response to this growth agenda, the Houghton Regis Town Centre Master Plan sets out a vision to ensure the town's success as the economic focus and social "heart" for existing and future residents and businesses. The broad regeneration initiative is under-pinned by proposals for new, mixed-use development in the town centre and overall improvements to the public realm.

The Plan sets out concepts for the redevelopment of the main shopping precinct - Bedford Square, in the eastern portion of the Study Area - and presents strategies for future growth to meet the needs of the projected increase in population. The western portion of the Study Area is identified for high density residential use and additional employment, retail and support uses.

Vehicle traffic, pedestrian and cycle movement to and through the centre, is a further consideration. The Plan sets out major improvements to the public realm, strategies to calm traffic whilst maintaining accessibility to the centre, and provides a strategy for car parking.

The Master Plan was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to the Luton and South Bedfordshire Local Development Framework in Summer 2008.