MK Growth

Milton Keynes has been identified as one of four major growth areas in the South East of England. Other areas are London-Stansted-Cambridge, Ashford and Thames Gateway.

The new development will create 28,100 new homes by 2011 and 71,000 homes by 2031 giving a projected population increase of approx 110,000. By 2031 Milton Keynes could be as big as Cardiff.
(Picture shows new development at Oxley Park)

Currently there are several sites in Milton Keynes under construction. Recorded here is a photo diary of some of the bigger sites in the north, east, south and west of the City. In Central Milton Keynes there are residential, business and social developments.
(Picture shows development of thehub in Central MK)

East of the City
West of the City
Central Milton Keynes
North of the City
South of the City

360 Panoramic Views

This document (the fourth edition) has been put together to give brief details on the growth of Milton Keynes. It has been split into four sections:
Part 1 - Introduction and Expansion Areas (Pdf)
Part 2 - CMK Developments (Pdf)
Part 3 - Development Sites (Pdf)
Part 4 - Major Projects and Regeneration (Pdf)

Other documents include:
Briefing Note on MK Growth - Feb 2007 (Pdf)
MK Growth Summary

The following Transport Strategies are currently out for public consultation:
Transport Strategy Review - How can we keep MK moving in the future? Many more homes are being built. Many more jobs are being created. This could mean more traffic and more congestion. What can we do? To find out more on how the council intend to tackle the traffic implications of a growing city, then look at the Transport Strategy Review and have your say Transport Strategy Review. Consultation ends 5 Nov 2008.

Bus Strategy - better public transport is vital to ensure that people have easier access to jobs, leisure and health facilities and other services. To find out more about the councils proposals for the future of bus services and to have your say Bus Strategy. Consultation ends 12 Nov 2008.

CMK Parking Strategy - What is the future of parking in Central Milton Keynes? To find out more information on the future car parking in CMK then take a look at the council's Parking Strategy CMK Parking Strategy. Consultation ends 12 Nov 2008.

The Draft Regeneration Strategy has just been released for consultation. This is an open consultation and will run from May until Oct 2008. The full and summary versions of the strategy, as well as the response form etc, are available from Regeneration Strategy

Two other strategies are currently out for consultation until 24 Oct 2008: Community Cohesion and Community Development - all three consultations run parallel together - Community Development Strategy and Community Cohesion

The FREE Big Red Bus Tours have been a huge success.

All tours are now fully booked.
Some of the feedback so far:
"Excellent informative tour"

"Very informative and illustrated how much contrast there is around MK"

"It was great to see all the new developments (not just in CMK), find out about future plans and what consultations I can get involved in" More information

Milton Keynes Partnership Committee (MKPC), was created by Government in 2004 as a sub committee of English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to planning and delivery of growth and development in the 'new city'.

The Partnership brings together Milton Keynes Council, English Partnerships, Local Strategic Partnership representatives from the health, community and business sectors and independent representation. The role of MKPC is to co-ordinate and implement the delivery of growth and ensure that homes, infrastructure, jobs and community facilities are provided as part of a joined up approach.

The day-to-day activities of MKPC are carried out by its staff of management, professional and technical experts, known collectively as Milton Keynes Partnership (MKP).

MKPC has just approved its Business Plan 2008/09 - 2012/13. MKP Business Plan

Milton Keynes Regional Spatial Strategy

The South East Plan (SEP) sets out things such as how many homes are needed to meet the future needs of people in the region, policies for the location of employment, and safeguarding the environment. The SEP covers Milton Keynes and the whole of the South East. Each region is preparing a Regional Spatial Strategy drafted by the Regional Planning Body. At present the approved Regional Planning Guidance for the South East is RPG9 (2001) and covers the period to 2016. A full review of the RPG9 has begun and a draft Regional Spatial Strategy - the South East Plan (SEP) - was published and submitted to the Government in March 2006.

Draft Regional Spatial Strategy - Publication of the Examination in Public Panel report
The EiP Panel published its report on the South East Plan in August 2007. Full report available Panel Report

Secretary of State's Proposed Changes
On 17 July 2008 the Secretary of State published its proposed changes to the Examination in Public Panel report. Consultation on the proposed changes is now being carried out (ends 24 Oct 2008. Full report available Proposed Changes

Click here for more information on Regional Policy

The Strategic Development Area Study 2008 is a new, indeptendent, report has been published looking at the possible number of houses in new development areas south east and south west of Milton Keynes. The report, by planning consultants GVA Grimley, is published 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.

For further information on the report SDA Study

Milton Keynes Council has begun the process of preparing its Core Strategy, which will eventually replace part of the Local Plan, adopted in 2005.

The Core Strategy will be a key document in the Local Development Framework. When it is finished the Core Strategy will set the vision, objectives and strategy for the spatial development of the borough. It will form the basis of all new
planning policies the council will apply in the future.

Consultation on the Core Strategy Preferred Options doucment, which sets out the Council's emerging position on the vision, objectives and overreaching strategy for the development of the city to 2026 and beyond, has just been completed.

To find out more Core Strategy

The Eastern Expansion Area (EEA) covers land between Broughton/Atterbury, the A421m the M1 and the Coachway at Junction 14 and the area proposes 4000+ homes, three primary and one secondary school, employment land, high street and community facilities (including a new pavilion at Broughton).

Two successful community involvement events have been held and
further events are planned, including Walking Tours of the Broughton area.
Further information click Eastern Expansion Area

Gallagher Estates, the developer of the Western Expansion Area (WEA), have got an outline plan for this area - the WEA covers about 360 hectares of land to the south of Stony Stratford, south west of Two Mile Ash and north-west of Crownhill and Grange Farm.

In May Gallagher Estates organised two successful public exhibitions, which gave people the opportunity to comment (and contribute) to the new plans for 'MK West'. Two further exhibitions on the enhanced designes for MK West have recently been held.

The project website www.mkwest.com has more information and you
can register your contact details to receive further information.

In 2003 the government designated MKSM - Milton Keynes & South Midlands (Bedfordshire, Aylesbury Vale, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes) - as a Growth Area.

The MKSM Growth Area is the largest and most successful growth area in the UK. It is made up of parts of three of the UK's best performing regions (the South East, the East and the East Midlands). Milton Keynes and South Midlands Area

Central Milton Keynes Handbook for public realm

Central Milton Keynes Framework Consultation

The Council's Cabinet passed a resolution on 26 September 2006 to adopt the Central CMK Framework Supplementary Planning Document (Central - CMK Framework SPD) The Central - CMK SPD expands on policies S5 and CC13 of the Adopted Milton Keynes Local Plan 2005.
Download Pdf here Statement of Adoption of the Central CMK Framework SPD
CMK Handbook

This initiative means that for every property built within the defined Urban Development Area, the developer will pay £18,500 to Milton Keynes Partnership for each new house or around £67 for every square metre of commercial floorspace. All told, developers will provide over £310 million which will be used to help fund community facilities and infrastructure. By topping up this funding with money from central government, Milton Keynes Partnership and its delivery partners can ensure that new communities will have the infrastructure they need.

The overarching legal agreement which sets out the facilities required and how they will be provided is the Framework Section 106 Agreement. Each development in the Urban Development Area will be linked to this agreement. For more information on the Tariff

Milton Keynes residents are familiar with seeing lots of building work as new houses, schools, offices and industrial units are put up, but now the rate of new development will increase. Between 2001 and 2031 Milton Keynes looks set to accommodate 71,000 new homes. For more information on the MK Growth Summary