Dunstable is the oldest charter town in the county of Bedfordshire, set within the rural landscape of South Bedfordshire. Situated 25 miles to the north west of London, Dunstable is close to the towns of Luton and Milton Keynes. With a population of approximately 35,000, the town also forms part of the Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis conurbation.
Previously dependent upon the motor industry, Dunstable retains an above average percentage of people employed in manufacturing, with unemployment consistently below the regional and national averages.
The inclusion of Dunstable within the Milton Keynes South Midland (MKSM) Growth Area will result in a significant increase in population, with 26,300 new homes scheduled to be built by 2021. This will also have implications for the town centre. The expansion of population in the catchment of Dunstable may impose additional demands on the existing facilities of the town centre, which will need to be accommodated. This may include a range of enhanced demands for environmental, cultural and retail provision.
The town centre is situated at a strategic crossroads, with the A5 running directly through the centre.
It is recognised that the existing town centre faces a number of issues. These include traffic congestion, high vacancy rates of retail premises and a declining retail offer. The town centre however, has seen regeneration, primarily through the recent development of the Grove Theatre and associated developments.