Milton Keynes City Council has published its first draft of MK City Plan 2025, proposing more affordable homes, new jobs, infrastructure for growing city, climate action, and protection for green space.
The Plan sets out a preferred blueprint for the city’s development until 2050, at which point Milton Keynes is expected to be larger than Cardiff with a population of around 400,000 people.
The City Plan outlines the type of homes, employment opportunities, and public spaces required to accommodate the expected growth while prioritising the requirements of the local people. No development should take place without health facilities, schools, stores and community facilities the city requires.
This common sense ‘Infrastructure First’ approach includes allocating space for seven new care homes, 33 dentists, 30 new schools, around 4,000sqm of land for GP surgeries and health care, and other facilities.
The draft Plan also describes how:
Based on a government formula, 30,000 more dwellings will be built on top of the ones that are currently planned. At least 40% of the dwellings on formerly undeveloped land must be affordable.
- Based on government formula, 30,000 more homes will be built on top of the ones that are currently planned. At least 40% of homes on previously undeveloped sites must be affordable.
- Growth in rural areas where local infrastructure could not support development is ruled out.
- A new mass rapid-transit system could connect the city’s highest growth areas with the city centre through efficient, reliable and eco-friendly public transport.
- An undergraduate institution, a cutting-edge events arena, and room for an anticipated 30,000 new jobs with a tech focus would transform a city centre. Currently in MK, about one in three occupations are in technology or a related business.
- Bold ideas will help tackle climate change and protect green spaces.
Councillor Pete Marland, Leader of MK City Council said, “The MK City Plan sets out a clear roadmap about how we can deliver well-planned sustainable growth over the next three decades. While our housing numbers are set by government, the responsibility to ensure that growth is delivered sustainably and in the right places is ours.”
Cllr Marland added, “Issues with young families getting on the housing ladder are not unique to Milton Keynes. Through the MK City Plan we will require developers to build at least 40% affordable family homes that align with local incomes. MK is already an economic powerhouse which we want to continue to grow. The MK City Plan will ensure we create the right jobs, secure a university in CMK and deliver regeneration in Bletchley to secure a better quality of life for our people.”
“We understand concerns about the pressure that growth could put on existing services, and that’s why we’re taking an infrastructure first approach to secure funding for our local hospital, new health facilities, new schools and places for the community to enjoy. “This is a really important opportunity for people to tell us about the things that matter to them when it comes to the future of our city. I encourage people to get involved in the consultation and share their thoughts with us", Cllr Marland concluded.
MK City Plan 2050 is an important planning document that will be submitted to the Secretary of State next year.
The full draft plan can be read here and local people can make comments and propose alternatives until 9 October.
The City Council will use the feedback it receives from local residents and businesses to refine the draft Plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State next year.
