Housing

How Milton Keynes and South Midlands will be developed

A Planning Framework

Milton Keynes and South Midlands (MKSM) is one of the three newer Growth Areas identified outside the Thames Gateway.

How has the strategy for growth been determined?

  • the need to consider further growth in the MKSM sub-region was first identified in Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the South East and the East Midlands
  • the potential of the sub-region to accommodate growth was then independently assessed in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Study, completed in September 2002 
  • the draft MKSM Sub-Regional Strategy (SRS) was prepared by the Regional Assemblies for the East Midlands, South East and East of England and issued for public consultation in July 2003 
  • there was then an Examination in Public by an independent expert Panel held in March and April 2004. The Panel reported in August 2004 
  • the Secretary of State's proposed changes to the Sub-Regional Strategy (SRS) taking account of the Panel recommendations were published for further public consultation in October 2004 
  • the revised MKSM Sub-Regional Strategy (SRS) was published by the Government in March 2005, and forms the statutory framework for the new Local Development Documents in the MKSM area.These will contain site specific and location proposals and will also be subject to full public consultation with local residents

A link to the Sub Regional Strategy is available on the right of the page. 

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Growth location  Sub-regional total 2001-21
 Aylesbury  15,000
 Bedford/Kempston/Northern Marston Vale  19,500
 Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough  34,100
 Luton/Dunstable and Houghton Regis (with Leighton Linslade)  26,300
 Milton Keynes  44,900
 Northampton  *


* The MKSM SRS highlights Northampton as an important location for growth. However, as a result of a high court challenge, the figure for the number of new homes to be provided in the town was quashed on 31 January 2006. We are currently taking stock of the implication of this judgement. However, the Government remains committed to housing growth in Northampton - not only providing more homes at more affordable prices but also building to high design and environmental standards, supported by the right infrastructure - transport, hospitals, schools, parks and leisure facilities.

Aylesbury

Aylesbury Vale Advantage (external link), a company limited by guarantee, will oversee the growth proposals and drive forward delivery in the area, seeking to enhance the urban environment with activity focused on the town centre renaissance and improved urban public green spaces. The impending provision of 15,000 new homes (2001 - 2021) with an additional 3,300 within The Vale of Aylesbury (not including any growth directly related to the urban area of Milton Keynes that may be identified through a cross-border Local Development Document with Milton Keynes Council) will provide the opportunity to secure quality design and construction.    

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Bedford/Kempston/Northern Marston Vale

Town centre development, economic regeneration and transport infrastructure improvements will support 19,500 new homes between 2001-2021 in Bedford and the Northern Marston Vale. A local delivery vehicle, Renaissance Bedford was established in summer 2005 to co-ordinate and support the work of local partners to take forward this agenda.

Contacts:

Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis and Leighton Linslade

The MSKM SRS identified the towns of Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis as effectively one conurbation forming the largest urban area in Bedfordshire, with nearby Leighton Linslade also able to absorb growth. The SRS sets out that 26,300 homes will be provided between 2001-2021 alongside substantial economic and urban regeneration.

Discussions are continuing on the form of the local delivery vehicle but in the interim the local authorities have formed a working group and are establishing a Joint Planning and Transport Committee.

Contact:

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes has been one of the UK's fastest growing urban areas and it is expected to continue this role by accommodating around 44,900 new homes by 2021. New development will be delivered through a combination of urban intensification and the development of new sustainable urban extensions. The planned development, including significantly enhanced public transport infrastructure, will help Milton Keynes embrace its growth potential to mature as a major regional centre. 

An Urban Development Area and associated Partnership Committee - Milton Keynes Partnership (external link), a sub-committee of the Board of English Partnerships - has been established to act as a statutory delivery agency to ensure that the sustainable growth of Milton Keynes will be focussed and co-ordinated effectively. Milton Keynes Partnership has been pioneering the use of standardised developer contributions (referred to locally as a "tariff"). This approach to infrastructure funding secures substantial contributions from developers to help meet the cost of local and strategic infrastructure associated with growth.  Milton Keynes Partnership's Business Plan, prepared with partner organisations, sets out infrastructure costs and priorities, combining main stream public sector and other sources of funding with developer contributions to deliver the full range of necessary local and strategic infrastructure and facilities.

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North Northamptonshire

The growth of Kettering and Wellingborough, along with the regeneration of Corby, will provide a major boost to the economic viability and the cultural vitality of the area.

A new urban regeneration company - North Northants Development Company (external link) (NNDC) - has been created by the merger of Catalyst Corby (Urban Regeneration Company) and the North Northants Together partnership. NNDC will combine effort, resources and expertise in order to continue the regeneration work that has been taking place in Corby Town Centre, whilst supporting sustainable housing growth across the whole of North Northamptonshire.

North Northamptonshire's five local authorities (Districts of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Wellingborough and Northamptonshire County Council) have also become the first to use a new provision of the 2004 Planning Act to join together and create a vehicle for strategic planning. This Joint Committee will provide an innovative approach so that the five authorities will be able to work together strategically to provide sustainable communities through a common, vision, plan and delivery programme. 

West Northamptonshire

There is a major opportunity to boost the economic strength of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester through brownfield regeneration and high quality design focusing on key town centre and urban fringe sites. The development of the River Nene Regional Park is providing a significant green space for Northamptonshire.

The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) (external link), a statutory delivery agency, was set up in December 2004 to ensure that the sustainable growth and regeneration of West Northamptonshire is driven forward in a focussed and coordinated way. The WNDC received a block grant of £25m from the second round of Growth Areas Fund to support priorities over the next two years in this prospectus, the emerging growth delivery plan and corporate plan. WNDC's investment is likely to focus on town centre regeneration and unlocking development opportunities on brownfield land.

Growth Area and Community Infrastructure Funding

MKSM is benefiting from significant levels of Communities and Local Government funding. Around £97m from the first round of the Growth Areas Fund has been allocated to support packages of projects in the MKSM area over the period 2003-06. In February 2006 further funding totalling approximately £107m was announced for projects in MKSM over the period 2006-08, following a second round of bidding to Communities and Local Government. In addition, approximately £97m of funding has been awarded to projects in MKSM from the joint DfT/Communities and Local Government Community Infrastructure Fund.

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