A new Luton Fire Station on Studley Road is due in spring 2029, the fire service's draft five-year plan says. Residents can comment until 15 January 2027.
Luton Fire Station on Studley Road is to be replaced, with crews due to move into the new building in spring 2029. The rebuild is one of the commitments in Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s draft plan for 2027 to 2032.
The service opened a 12-week public consultation on the plan on Friday 23 October. It closes on 15 January 2027.
What the plan says about Luton’s fire station
The draft Community Risk Management Plan lists “Deliver the replacement Luton Fire Station” under its estate priorities. It is the only station project the draft names.
The detail sits in a supporting document, the service’s revised draft Strategic Assessment. It says the Fire Authority has approved the replacement and authorised a loan. The expected move-in date is spring 2029, and costs are “predicted to be over £13 million”.
The new Studley Road station would have:
- four appliance bays
- modern training facilities
- zones that keep contaminated kit away from clean areas
- inclusive welfare facilities
- solar panels and electric vehicle charging
The same document gives a second figure. The fire authority’s budget, approved on 18 February 2026, made provision in its capital programme for a loan of up to £30 million to rebuild the station. Final approval of that loan depends on an early design report, known as RIBA Stage 1, with the decision delegated to the Chief Fire Officer. The documents do not explain the gap between the £30 million provision and the £13 million-plus cost estimate.
Luton Fire Station, 32 Studley Road. Photo: Kevin Hale (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons. The picture does not show the station as it is today.
Why the old stations need replacing
The service scored all 14 of its stations against national station design principles, out of 50. Only Dunstable scored more than half, with 41. The average was 17, according to the Strategic Assessment. A large part of the estate was built between 1953 and 1970.
The assessment also lists a second Luton project as an aspiration, not a commitment: a new station in north Luton near M1 junction 11a. It would serve north Luton, Leagrave and Houghton Regis, which is in Central Bedfordshire. That station, like several others on the list, depends on “suitable business cases and funding”. No date or cost is given.
Luton has the county’s highest rate of house fires
The plan rests on a 287-page Community Risk Analysis. It has more about Luton than any other part of the consultation pack.
Luton recorded 1,096 dwelling fires in the service’s incident records, across 79,906 homes. That is 13.7 fires per 1,000 homes. The county average is 9.4.
| Area | Homes | Dwelling fires | Fires per 1,000 homes | Serious fires per 1,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luton | 79,906 | 1,096 | 13.7 | 0.83 |
| Bedford | 91,484 | 798 | 8.7 | 0.33 |
| Central Bedfordshire | 135,935 | 984 | 7.2 | 0.40 |
| County | 307,325 | 2,878 | 9.4 | 0.49 |
The analysis says a Luton home is roughly 1.9 times as likely to have a fire as one in Central Bedfordshire. It links that to deprivation. Of the 65 neighbourhoods in the service’s area that fall in England’s most deprived fifth, 44 are in Luton.
There is better news on outcomes. Five of the county’s 18 recorded dwelling fire deaths were in Luton. Per fire, that is the lowest death rate of the three council areas, at about 4.6 deaths per 1,000 fires, against 7.5 in Bedford.
Response is fast in the town. Stopsley has the quickest average attendance at house fires in the county, at 7 minutes 37 seconds. Harrold, in rural north Bedfordshire, averages 16 minutes 50 seconds. For fires in non-domestic buildings, Luton station is the fastest, at 7 minutes 49 seconds, and the Luton area accounts for about a quarter of those fires.
Across the county, dwelling fires fell from 452 in 2018-19 to 321 in 2025-26. The analysis says that fall has stopped, with around 310 to 345 a year since 2021-22.
What the service says
The plan is built on four pillars:
- prevention, preparedness and community resilience
- understanding risk and aligning resources
- a high-performing and inclusive culture
- a flexible and future-ready service
Chief Fire Officer Andy Hopkinson said in the service’s announcement: “Major national infrastructure projects including the expansion of London Luton Airport, delivery of East West Rail, creation of the Universal theme park resort and proposals for new settlements are just some of the changes on the horizon.”
He added: “Your feedback on our proposed CRMP is vital for shaping the future of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and how it operates to keep our communities safe.”
What it means for you
- You can comment until 15 January 2027. The survey is anonymous and is on the consultation page. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Bedfordshire can respond.
- There is a £50 voucher draw for people who complete the survey and fill in a separate entry form. Entry is optional and is stored apart from your answers.
- Nothing changes at Studley Road yet. The station stays in use. The final plan goes to the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority for approval after the consultation.
- Most house fires are accidental, and cooking and smoking materials drive them, the analysis says. The danger to life peaks overnight. The service offers home fire safety visits, which you can book from its website.
We will report the fire authority’s decision on the final plan, and any planning application for the new station, when they are published. For other proposals in the town, see our Luton planning news.
Have your say