Luton News
The latest Luton news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Luton Airport Drop-Off Zone to Reopen as Premium Parking
London Luton Airport plans to reopen its Terminal Drop Off Zone by Christmas as pre-booked Premium Parking and bays for disabled passengers, not as a drop-off.
More stories
Bury Park
Bury Park Red Route on Hold: Report Due Early 2027
Luton's new Executive has parked the Bury Park red route for a three-month business impact study. Crossing, pavement and loading bay fixes go ahead now.
Council
Luton Council Leader: There Are No 'No-Go Zones' Here
Cllr Amjid Ali calls shadow minister Blake Stephenson's no-go zones claim about Luton 'completely untrue'. What the council said, and who Mr Stephenson is.
Food Hygiene
Luton Food Hygiene August: A Zero and Five 1s
A Leagrave Road halal butcher was rated 0 and five more Luton food businesses got a 1 in August. All 42 results, and why September's are not yet complete.
What's On
Luton Black History Month 2026: 8 Events, Hero Awards
Eight Luton events this October, from a Carnival 50 photo show to a reggae musical, most free or £5. Unsung Black Heroes nominations close on 8 November.
Schools
Luton Year 7 Places: 1,041 Preferences for 224 at Denbigh
Denbigh High had 1,041 preferences for 224 Year 7 places in 2026 and refused some catchment children. Every Luton school's figures before 31 October.
Council
Luton Has Its First Green Councillors, Both Ex-Labour
Yarun Begum of Lewsey and Rumi Chowdhury of Beech Hill have joined the Green Party. Both stay in the Independent Alliance, so the coalition is unchanged.
Luton Airport
Luton Airport Solar Farm: 14,580 Panels, Power by Early 2027
Work has started on a 14,580-panel solar farm inside London Luton Airport's airfield. It could make 11.2 GWh a year, after a year's delay waiting on grid approval.
Bins and Recycling
Luton Food Waste for Flats: 23,000 Get Caddies by March 2027
Around 23,000 Luton flats are getting food waste caddies in eight rounds to the end of March 2027. The first round started on 14 September. What you get and what goes in.
Council
Luton Council's New Executive: All 10 Names and Portfolios
Amjid Ali's Executive is six Lib Dems, three Independent Alliance and one Conservative. The airport stays with the Leader, and two more get outside roles.
Parking
Luton Parking Patrols Now Run to Midnight in Three Areas
Enforcement officers have worked to midnight in the town centre, Bury Park and Marsh Road since 19 September. A yellow line ticket costs £70, or £35 in 14 days.
Politics
Luton MP's Miscarriage Leave Law: Two Weeks From April 2027
Two weeks' leave after a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks starts in April 2027, after a campaign led by Luton North MP Sarah Owen. It will be unpaid.
Crime
Dallow Road Luton: Second Man Charged With Murder
Two men, both 20 and of Runley Road, are now charged with the murder of a 19-year-old on Dallow Road on 18 September. The force statements, and the road's record.
House prices
Luton house prices July 2026: £284,946, flats down 2.8%
The average Luton home fell 1% in July to £284,946, below its January 2023 level. Flats are down 2.8% over the year to £159,594, the cheapest in two counties.
Heritage
Luton Made Vauxhall exhibition drew nearly 50,000
Luton's Vauxhall exhibition ran six weeks past its advertised closing date and drew nearly 50,000 people. The team now wants the town's other industries.
Luton Airport
Luton Airport Near Miss: Glider Was 950ft Below Airbus
The Airprox Board found the glider 950ft below the Airbus and ruled out a collision risk. The 27 April encounter was over countryside near Leighton Buzzard.
Council
Luton Council Leader Is Now Amjid Ali, After a 26 to 21 Vote
Lib Dem Amjid Ali leads Luton Council after Tahmina Saleem was removed 26 to 21. His coalition holds 23 of 48 seats, and Labour is now the opposition.
Council
Luton Children's Services: Inadequate in 2020, Now Mentoring
Rated Inadequate by Ofsted in 2020 and Good this year, Luton's children's services will now help other councils improve, under a DfE programme.
Transport
Crawley Green Road Vauxhall Way Plans: Comment by 4 Oct
Luton wants to signalise the Vauxhall Way roundabout and run cycle tracks to Queen Elizabeth School. Comments close 4 October, drop-ins 19 and 21 Sept.
Community
Luton's New Apple Variety: Pick One of Five Names
A previously unknown apple has been found on a Clarendon Road tree thought to be 70 to 90 years old. Luton Orchards wants you to rank five names.
Council
Luton Council Leader Vote: Saleem Removed 26 to 21
Saleem was removed 26 to 21 on 14 September and Lib Dem Amjid Ali elected; his 10-strong Executive followed on 24 September. Every date and vote here.
Community
Luton Pride in Place Grants: 37 Groups In Line From 73 Bids
37 Luton groups, from scout troops to a bowling club, are in line for Pride in Place grants from a £480,000 pot that drew more than £1.2 million of bids.
Community
Luton Reuse Shops Fund £15,000 of Community Grants
Six Luton groups share £15,000 from the Better Luton Environment Fund, paid for out of donations and sales at the council's two tidy tip reuse shops.
Planning
Luton 246-Flat Tower Must Start by 11 October or Lapse
Permission for 246 flats on the Cumberland Street car park dies on 11 October. The developer has applied to dig trenches to beat it, and is drafting a replacement.
Food Hygiene
Luton Food Hygiene: One Zero and Five 1s in July
One Luton cafe scored the worst possible mark in all three areas. Five more were rated 1. The full July breakdown, and why August looks perfect.
Council
Luton Backs a Mayor for Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes
Luton has written to Government backing a BLMK mayor. Ministers rejected the same four councils over governance, the Government's own report records.
Luton Airport
Luton Airport Fits Adrenaline Kits at 10-Plus Locations
London Luton Airport says it is the first UK airport to install wall-mounted anaphylaxis kits. They sit in the security hall, departure lounge, immigration and baggage reclaim, and anyone can use them.
Community
Luton Outdoor Gym Petition 732 Short of Forcing a Debate
A free outdoor gym for central Luton is 1,403 signatures in, against a 2,135 threshold. None of the eight petitions on the council's register has reached it.
Bury Park
Bury Park Red Route Goes to Full Council on 3 September
Scrutiny wants the red route trial postponed until four things are done, including an economic impact study on Bury Park businesses. Full Council debates it on 3 September.
Council
Luton Council: 3 Independents, None of 54 Committee Seats
A councillor left the Lib Dem group on 13 August and another joined the Independent Alliance. One committee seat moves, and the three independents get none.
Bury Park
Bury Park Red Route Called In: Scrutiny Board Meets Monday
Two councillors called in the 3 August decision, so Bury Park's red route trial cannot start. The scrutiny board decides what happens next at 6pm on Monday.
Council
Luton Resilience Fund: £4.6m on NEETs, £1.2m on Bins
Luton's £18.9m Resilience Fund splits into 15 schemes. The largest is £4.58m to cut youth unemployment, and £1.18m of the three-year total is still unallocated.
Bury Park
Bury Park red route approved: 18-month trial, 120 spaces
Luton's Executive approved an 18-month trial red route for Bury Park on 3 August, with a three-minute grace period and 120 spaces at Luton Town's ground.
House prices
Luton house prices returned to growth in June 2026
Luton prices turned positive in June after three months of falls, with flats the only type still worth less than a year before. Figures later revised down.
Fire
Selbourne Road fire: major incident, homes evacuated
Ten fire engines and three aerial platforms fought a bathroom showroom fire in Selbourne Road on Saturday. Wingate Road was evacuated, five wards were told to shut windows, and road closures ran overnight.