Rachel Hopkins

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner) on securing this important debate. I welcome the Labour Government’s commitment to the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. After years of underfunding and neglect from the previous Conservative Government in constituencies such as mine, this investment will reap significant economic benefits for my constituency and the wider region, with the proposals forecast to contribute £78 billion to our economy by 2035. I also welcome the further £500 million investment package recently committed by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to deliver growth in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor and cement its status as a global innovation hub. Working people in my constituency will benefit from access to thousands of new jobs, improved regional connectivity and more opportunities. As has been mentioned, Luton is located at the heart of the golden triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge. My hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge and others have noted that the publicly owned London Luton airport is a key entity in ensuring economic growth in our region, contributing £1.8 billion to the UK economy each year and £830 million annually to Luton. The airport also has the most densely populated catchment area of any UK airport. It serves London, the midlands and the east of England, and is one of the best connected airports by rail and road. Its prime location will help to support the delivery of other regional projects, including the East West Rail line. It is one of the most significant transport projects and of course links into the proposals for the Universal UK theme park near Bedford in the constituency of the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Blake Stephenson), with Luton airport acting as a key driving factor in Universal’s decision to invest in Bedfordshire. There are also significant redevelopment and regeneration projects under way in Luton. The football club’s new stadium at Power Court, which will be based in the heart of our town centre, includes plans for a 25,000-capacity stadium, as well as an adjacent hotel, music venue and housing development. Work on the Stage development at the old Bute Street car park will also soon be under way; it will be a major mixed-use destination with nearly 300 flats alongside commercial units, a multi-purpose food and events venue and new public garden square. The delivery of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor will be key in widening the reach and impact of redevelopment projects in Luton, drawing more footfall to our town as a hub for sporting and leisure events and contributing further to economic growth there. Crucially, Luton is a thriving and young town—in fact, the third youngest in the UK—