Marie Kirbyshaw, Chief Executive of The Culture Trust, said:
Whilst everyone is welcome, there will be a particular focus on young people and a cohort of pioneer members who are already in place to move in when the interior fit out is complete early this summer.
Members can develop ideas, collaborate and benefit from a range of professional work and social spaces. Now carefully restored, Hat Works will provide affordable and much needed work space for creative and digital entrepreneurs, innovators and micro-businesses in an inspiring heritage setting.
The Trust’s ambition is to re-animate the ‘at risk’ conservation area with cultural activity, caring for the cluster of important heritage buildings in the area that reveal the history of this once vibrant hat trading town. Situated in the centre of the town and Plaiters Lea Conservation Area, it forms part of the Hat District heritage regeneration project led by The Culture Trust. Hat Works – the project to restore and re-use the old factory - was awarded one of the Architectural Heritage Fund’s major Transformational Project Grants in June 2020.īuilt between 18, the building was used as a hat factory until 2006, but has been empty and unused since then. The Culture Trust, Luton are celebrating completing the heritage restoration and refurbishment of the oldest former hat factory in Luton.