40 flats approved on land at Leagrave junction that has stood derelict for over ten years

Plans for a block of flats off a busy junction in Leagrave have been approved by the council's development control committee.

Kara Properties Limited submitted plans for 40 flats on the site, which formerly housed Leagrave Service Station, but which has stood derelict for over a decade.

The Luton-based company's project consists of 14 one-bedroom, 22 two-bed and four three-bedroom apartments, with three commercial units, as well as parking for 25 vehicles and storage for 32 bicycles.

The half-acre site has been cleared and vacant for more than ten years, according to a report to the council's development control committee.

Principal planning officer Graham Dore described it as "an important piece of regenerative development in the locality".

"It will rejuvenate a long undeveloped site," he said.

There were two objections to the scheme saying the scale of the building is overbearing, there would be overlooking and loss of privacy, and extra traffic and pollution.

Conservative Bramingham councillor Gilbert Campbell suggested the building would be 60 or 70 feet high, adding: "It will overpower everything in the vicinity.

"To build this monstrosity right on a very busy corner, it's a nightmare all the time," he warned.

Labour Northwell councillor Anne Donelon told the committee she was concerned about overdevelopment and parking.

"We have developers, don't we?" she asked. "We've got Foxhall Homes. I'm thinking this is a perfect site for houses.

"Why are we letting a developer move in, we've got a flood of one-bedroom flats we just don't need.

"The residents who contact me want to live in three-bedroom homes with gardens."

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain said: "It's not ideal, but it's a better mix.

"More importantly, the affordable housing is making a contribution to the needs of the people in Luton in that area close to Leagrave Station."

Labour Farley councillor Dave Taylor, who chairs the committee, added: "We've got a sustainable location and this isn't the first application for this site.

"It's been vacant for a while, and this is a reasonable development in this particular area."

Councillors approved the development, with seven votes in favour and three against.