Milton Keynes Strategic Development Areas Study

A new, independent, report has been published today looking at the possible number of houses in new development areas southeast and south west of Milton Keynes.

The report, by planning consultants GVA Grimley, comes just a few months before the Government revisits the South East Plan, the regional plan for the whole of SE England, which would bring over 50,000 new homes to Milton Keynes and surrounding areas in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire by 2026.

The consultants’ report outlines the potential amount of land needed for housing, employment, open space, schools and other facilities in two Strategic Development Areas (SDAs), to the south east and south west of Milton Keynes if the plans go ahead.

It tests whether there is room for the number of homes proposed by the independent panel of inspectors that examined the South East Plan last year. The Panel recommended 5,390 new homes in the south west SDA, in the Newton Longville area, and 10,400 in the south east, near Wavendon, Woburn Sands and Aspley Guise.
For the SE SDA, the Study concludes that although there is room for the Panel’s figure of 10,400 homes, the Bedfordshire part of the SDA cannot accommodate the Panel’s proposed figure of 5,600 homes.
For the SW SDA, the Study concludes that there is enough land to accommodate the Panel’s figure of 5,390 homes, but a long term boundary to the SDA must be determined.

The Study was jointly commissioned by the 5 local authorities that cover the potential development areas; Milton Keynes Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Bucks County Council, Mid Beds District Council, Beds County Council plus Milton Keynes Partnership. 

But as Mid Beds District Council’s Forward Planning Manager Trevor Saunders pointed out, it’s not just about the houses.

“Housing is obviously a very important part of growth, but it has to be linked with new roads, new schools, jobs, shops and open spaces – all the things you need to make sustainable communities. The report will help all the authorities affected respond when the government consults on changes to the South East Plan later this year.”
 
The report is available online on the Mid Beds District Council website.  There will also be copies in the libraries in Central Milton Keynes, Kingston, Woburn Sands and Westcroft.