EDAW has been commissioned to develop a masterplan and Supplementary Planning Document, to provide a framework for sustainable change and growth in Dunstable. EDAW are passionate about revitalising town and city centres and have a strong track record in this field.

Vital and viable town centres play a key role in sustainable communities. They promote social inclusion by ensuring that communities have access to town centre facilities and services. They also deliver more sustainable patterns of development through higher density mixed use developments promoting sustainable transport choices.

Government policy is to focus on existing centres in order to strengthen and regenerate them. PPS6 covers town centres and the main town centre uses. The Government’s key objective is to promote their vitality and viability by planning for the growth and development of existing centres, by promoting and enhancing existing centres and by focusing development and encouraging a wide range of services in a good environment, accessible to all. The Government makes further objectives of enhancing a wider range of consumer choices, of supporting retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors and improving accessibility especially via public transport.

A necessary first step is to review the role that town and city centres are playing in the wider community. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to revitalising town centres. Studies to assess new roles for town centres should take into account the individual character and strengths of the centre and build on these.