The planning application is made in outline. It is proposed to construct up to 1,265 dwellings, a local centre with shops and other facilities, medical/health services, a nursery, a primary school, a care home and associated access provision and infrastructure. 

The majority of the development is located within Buckinghamshire where an identical application was made (reference 23/02180/AOP). Only a small part of the site is in Milton Keynes – an access route, extending the H6 Childs Way. 

When the application was submitted, it was not considered acceptable. However, as it was accompanied by an Environmental Statement and straddled the boundary with Buckinghamshire, it was not possible to make a decision, as reported to the Planning Committee in December 2023. 

Since then, the council has received amendments to the application, in an attempt to reduce the issues originally raised. 

The council is yet to reach a position on the application. Councillors will decide whether they would have approved or refused permission at the Planning Committee meeting on 3 August 2026. The officer’s report for that meeting sets out the issues in more detail. 

Crest Nicholson Chiltern has made the appeal as the council has not made a decision. An appeal has also been made to Buckinghamshire Council (appeal reference 6011617). 

Appeals are managed and decided by the Planning Inspectorate, who have confirmed it will be handled by a public inquiry. It has appointed an independent Inspector, D. Rose, to decide this. 

You can read further guidance on taking part in planning appeals proceeding by inquiry here. 

The Inspector will consider all the material planning considerations that are relevant to the proposal, and from all parties, including the council(s), the appellant, and from those who  made comments on the application. 

There is a strict process and timeframe for the processing of appeals. 

First, there is an opportunity for interested parties to submit written comments to the Inspector. The deadline for making further comments to the Inspector is 25 August 2026, and these must be made online to the Planning Inspectorate. You cannot send us your comments.  

Comments previously made by interested parties will be taken into account by the Inspector. It is not necessary to submit comments again unless it is felt necessary to amend, supplement or withdraw them. 

The council, in its capacity as the local planning authority, will prepare a Statement of Case by 25 August 2026, as well as Statements of Common Ground. 

Should interested parties wish to be involved in a formal capacity during the inquiry itself, then they should give consideration to applying  for formal ‘Rule 6’ status. Any Rule 6 party must be able to present written and verbal evidence to the inquiry and pay your own costs of doing so. They should be prepared to examine the evidence put forward by others involved and enter into a Statement of Common Ground, if requested to do so. The timescales specified by the Inspector must be followed. 

All witnesses will then prepare a Proof of Evidence upon which they base their arguments, to be submitted to the Inspector by 24 December 2026. Any further agreed or revised Statements of Common Ground will be submitted by this date. 

Further written comments are not normally accepted after this date. 

A planning obligation (section 106 agreement) will be prepared and submitted by 12 January 2027. This ensures that, if the Inspector is minded to allow the appeal, any financial contributions to secure mitigation to schools, doctors, roads, etc., along with affordable housing, will be delivered. This, alongside proposed conditions, do not indicate that the Inspector has made up their mind. 

When the inquiry opens, the Inspector will decide the order in which evidence is to be heard. A site visit will usually follow the hearing of evidence, although no evidence or opinion will be heard during the visit. 

The Inspector will then normally issue their written decision in a specified timeframe, either dismissing or allowing the appeal. The decision will be published on the Inspectorate's website and a copy of the decision will be kept on the planning register. 

The main parties in this inquiry are the appellant (formerly the applicant) and both Milton Keynes City Council and Buckinghamshire Council, in their capacity as local planning authorities. 

It is unknown how many local residents and other people with an interest will wish to attend the event, but every effort will be made to accommodate all. 

The Inspector will not normally allow interested parties to speak at the inquiry. 

Further guidance is available here: Guide to taking part in planning appeals proceeding by inquiry. 

The appeal documents can be found on the Planning Register . 

All documentation relating to the planning application can also be found on the Planning Register  

As the appeal proceeds, a Core Documents library will be created and accessible from this page.

The appeal documents can be found on the Planning Register . 

All documentation relating to the planning application can also be found on the Planning Register  

As the appeal proceeds, a Core Documents library will be created and accessible from this page.