Newlands Park
- Services
- Landscape Architecture
- Sector
- Urban Design
- Location
- Luton, UK
A landscape vision for a gateway business park in Luton
Newlands Park is a proposed business park development on New Airport Way in Luton, for which Benoy developed a landscape vision establishing the design principles for a gateway site that is both ecologically resilient and visually distinctive. The brief called for a landscape that makes a strong arrival statement while preserving existing vegetation and promoting health and well-being for those working on and passing through the site.
Art, ecology, and connectivity
Public art is central to the gateway strategy, providing opportunities for local artists to secure commissions for significant pieces visible from the main road, and establishing a cultural identity for the development that goes beyond conventional business park landscaping. The landscape design connects the site to the existing pedestrian and cycling network, supporting active travel and extending the site’s relationship with the surrounding area. Existing vegetation along the New Airport Way boundary is retained and enhanced, reinforcing the site’s ecological continuity with the adjacent landscape.
A performative landscape
A cut-and-fill strategy shapes a mixed scrub woodland corridor, creating new natural habitats and supporting biodiversity across the site. Natural retaining walls preserve local ecology, and native planting is selected to attract pollinators. Recreational amenities are distributed throughout, providing opportunities for exercise and rest that support the well-being of the site’s future occupants.
