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The Milton Keynes New Town Heritage Register is a local list of buildings, structures, artworks, and public spaces that are locally significant and contribute to the city's unique New Town identity, even if they don't qualify for national historic listing. It serves as a key tool for the Milton Keynes City Council to identify and promote important elements of the city's modern heritage, making them a material consideration in planning applications and encouraging high-quality new development and investment.
Milton Keynes is the last, largest and most ambitious of all the settlements to be created under the 1946 New Towns Act. The combination of its scale, distinctive grid layout and architectural, landscape driven design will never be seen again in this country. The first twenty-five years of its life reflects not only the changing fashions of post-war and late twentieth century architecture, planning and art, but it tells the story of the changing economic, political and social circumstances of the UK through the period.
The adopted Statement of Significance document provides an overview of the wider heritage significance of Milton Keynes, providing context for the New Town Heritage Register (NTHR), a 'local list'.
Over 240 new town era places were nominated by the public as having local heritage significance. Following a period of further public consultation, a selection panel made up of local and national experts and stakeholders considered the first phase of 160 assets against the adopted selection criteria, taking on board any representations that had been made. A Delegated Decision on 17 September 2024 established Milton Keynes' first local list, adding 132 assets to it.
Our My Milton Keynes Interactive Mapping now includes NTHR assets, showing those that have been added to it, those waiting consideration by the NTHR Selection Panel, and those that have already been rejected. Activate and expand the 'planning constraints' layer, within this you can then activate and expand the 'heritage' grouping that includes the NTHR layers. Clicking on assets will show you their status alongside basic information such as the build date, architect(s), and, where an asset has been added, the criteria that they have met.
We are now progressing phase 2 to consider the remaining 80 nominated assets, working towards a decision in March 2025. The basic information on this webpage will be replaced with a dedicated website aimed at bringing to the NTHR to life, helping residents, workers and visitors to explore the new town heritage through online material, trails and interpretation panels.
The NTHR is a 'local list', a way of identifying places that are locally significant but that do not meet the high bar for national designation e.g. as a 'listed building'. Some local authorities have had local lists in place for over 30 years whilst others, such as Milton Keynes, are now bringing them forward as part over a wider national programme.
Places added to the NTHR will be 'non-designated heritage assets'. What requires planning permission remains the same for assets added to the NTHR, unlike listed buildings which gain additional statutory and planning controls. When planning permission is required, a heritage statement must be submitted and the significance of the asset is a material consideration alongside all other planning considerations.
Read our handy NTHR FAQs document
Whilst the bar for national designation is very high for post war places, the Government's advisor on heritage, Historic England, has previously designated the following, all grade II:
The recent NTHR decision confirms that a further four artworks will be put forward for statutory listing.
Find out more on the National Heritage Register website.
Civic, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ