Luton/Dunstable urban area

{{short description|Conurbation in Bedfordshire, England, which includes Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis}}

{{Multiple image

|title=Luton/Dunstable urban area

|image1=Luton (19235778425).jpg

|alt1=Luton Town Hall building, war memorial in foreground

|caption1=Luton Town Hall in George Street, Luton

|image2=Dunstable, The Clock Tower and Market Cross - geograph.org.uk - 145452.jpg

|alt2=Clock tower in middle of square in Dunstable, Methodist church in background

|caption2=Dunstable clock tower, High Street South, built in 1999

|image3=High Street Houghton Regis looking North East - geograph.org.uk - 388933.jpg

|alt3=Houghton Regis High Street

|caption3=Houghton Regis High Street

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File:LutonDunstableBUA.png

The Luton/Dunstable urban area, according to the Office for National Statistics, is the conurbation (continuous built up area) including the settlements of Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, in Bedfordshire, East of England.

Despite straddling district boundaries the conurbation shares many facilities including an integrated bus service and the large Luton and Dunstable University Hospital. The conurbation is located in the southern part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England, and includes the unitary authority of Luton, and part of Central Bedfordshire. The current population (2021 census) is 286,803.{{cite web|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/ua/|title=Luton/Dunstable Urban Area: human settlement in United Kingdom|accessdate=2023-03-27}} This is an increase of 9% from the 2011 population of 258,018.

Future growth

The area is expected to grow due to development within and physical expansion of the three towns and large re-development of Luton, including redevelopment of the former Vauxhall Motors factory complex.

The Luton & Dunstable urban area is considered part of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub Region, part of the East of England. the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy has outlined the identified the urban area for growth, as part of the Sustainable Communities Plan. It is also considered part of the London Commuter Belt.{{cite web|url=http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119|title=British urban pattern: population data|accessdate=2010-02-22|date=March 2007|format=pdf|work=ESPON project 1.4.3 Study on Urban Functions|publisher=European Spatial Planning Observation Network|page=119|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119|archivedate=2015-09-24}}{{cite web |url=http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-1048651&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500 |title=World Gazetteer: London – largest cities (Per geographical entity) |website=world-gazetteer.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209135150/http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-1048651&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500 |archive-date=9 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070226012830/http://www.abi.org.uk/display/File/Child/554/Managing_Flood_Risk_Vol1_Chapters1_5.pdf Luton population] (PDF; archived)

Category:Geography of Bedfordshire

Category:Luton

Category:Urban areas of England