View source for Luton Point

{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2012}}
{{infobox shopping mall|name = Luton Point
|image = Luton Point, 28 May 2025 - 54550788097.jpg
|image_width = 220px
|caption = Entrance to St. George's Square
|location = [[Luton]], Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
|coordinates = {{Coord|51|52|45|N|0|24|54|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|opening_date = {{Start date and age|1972|df=yes}}
|manager = Roy Greening <ref>{{cite web|title=The Mall Luton - On site team|url=http://www.themall.co.uk/business/our-malls/luton/|access-date=12 October 2014}}</ref>
|owner = [[Frasers Group]]
|developer =
|architects =
|building_costs =
|number_of_stores = 128
|number_of_anchors =
|floor_area = {{convert|906850|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|floors = 2
|parking = 1,707 spaces
|website = https://lutonpoint.co.uk/
}}

'''Luton Point''' is a shopping centre in [[Luton]], [[Bedfordshire]], England. It was formerly an [[Arndale Centre]], until it was purchased by [[Capital & Regional]] in January 2006.<ref name=capreg>{{cite web |title=Capital & Regional Website |url=https://capreg.com/our-portfolio/the-mall-luton/}}</ref> It was temporarily called ''The Mall Arndale'', but was later referred to as ''The Mall Luton'', although local people still refer to it as "The Arndale". It has been renamed ''Luton Point'' in 2024.

==History==
Originally opened in 1972, as ''The Arndale Shopping Centre'', it was purchased by [[Capital & Regional]] in January 2006.<ref name=capreg /> The centre has 147 shop units occupying {{convert|906850|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, and parking for 1,707 cars.

The area that would become the new shopping centre was cleared during the 1960s.  Many notable buildings which had escaped the damage of World War II were subsequently demolished.

===St George's Square===
[[File:Luton Mall at Night.jpg|thumb|The Mall at Night]]
Following the completion of the redevelopment of St George's Square in [[Luton]], the St George's Square end of The Mall Luton was also remodelled.

The development created 8,825 sq m (75,000 sq ft) of new retail space across 8 new retail units. Three levels of car parking at the top of the development provided an increase of approximately 200 car parking spaces. On completion The Mall Luton totalled 77,199 sq m (831,000 sq ft). The new six-storey building has an entrance directly onto St George's Square, with escalators inside the building taking shoppers to the main mall level.

Ken Ford, chief executive of The Mall, said, when the scheme was announced:
<blockquote>
"Our proposals will provide enhanced retail units in order to improve the retail offer in the town. They will also improve The Mall Luton's relationship with the town – by providing bright, modern shop fronts and a landmark new entrance we will vastly improve the Mall's presence onto St George's Square and help create an attractive area for the people of Luton to shop, eat and relax."
</blockquote>

[[TK Maxx]] was the new anchor tenant for the extension,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2418/TK_Maxx_signs_to_The_Mall_Luton.html |title=TK Maxx confirmed in extension |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201131831/http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2418/TK_Maxx_signs_to_The_Mall_Luton.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> with Argos also taking a unit. Completion of the St George's Square redevelopment was planned for September 2009. However, due to the recession, the funding was delayed. The redevelopment was eventually completed in 2012.

==Extension plans==

===The ''Northern Gateway''===
In December 2007, a further planning application was submitted for a much larger extension to The Mall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.propertyweek.com/the-mall-fund-submits-luton-arndale-plans/3074779.article|title = The Mall Fund submits Luton Arndale plans}}</ref> As well as several much larger shopping units, housing and office space was planned. The site is between The Mall and train station, and would see total redevelopment of Silver Street, Bute Street, one side of Cheapside and Part of Guildford Street.

Although much of the site is either car parking or vacant, two [[grade II listed building]]s and several locally listed buildings would be demolished, including several 19th century hat factories, for which the town was once famous.<ref>[http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Arndale-facelift-will-destroy-town39s.3744429.jp Luton Today article on proposed demolition]</ref>

The plan was criticised by [[English Heritage]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3108826 |title=English Heritage criticisms |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011111032/http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3108826 |archive-date=11 October 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} </ref> and the [[Victorian Society]].<ref>http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/news/8986/hat_trick_of_destruction_planned_for_lutons_historic_heart.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421103757/http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/news/8986/hat_trick_of_destruction_planned_for_lutons_historic_heart.html |date=21 April 2008 }} Victorian Society</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3105539 |title=Broadway Malyan scheme for Luton ignites row over destruction of listed buildings |publisher=bdonline.co.uk |date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035845/http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/broadway-malyan-scheme-for-luton-ignites-row-over-destruction-of-listed-buildings/3105539.article |archive-date=8 February 2012}} </ref> Following the comments The Mall stated that following discussions with council officers, "amendments to the application are being made".

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{url|https://lutonpoint.co.uk/}}
*{{YouTube|c=UCLYy5qw0BeKMyfWJn8LUBwg}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070610125808/http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/Environment/Planning/Arndale%20centre Planning documents lodged with Luton Council for the redevelopment]
*[http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/business-news/A-glass-act-for-Arndale.3062445.jp Luton Today article about further redevelopment plans on Bute Street]
*[https://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2006/10/international-malls-arndale-luton.html Site with Photos from the 1970s]

{{The Mall Fund}}
{{Luton}}
{{Shopping centres in the East of England}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Luton]]
[[Category:Shopping malls established in 1972]]
[[Category:Shopping centres in Bedfordshire]]