Expansion plans for Milton Keynes

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In January 2004, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced[1] the United Kingdom government's Expansion plans for Milton Keynes

He proposed that the population of Milton Keynes (ceremonially Buckinghamshire) should double in the subsequent 20 years. He appointed English Partnerships to do so, taking planning controls away from Milton Keynes Borough Council and making EP the statutory planning authority. In turn, EP established a subsidiary Milton Keynes Partnership to manage the programme locally. Their proposal for the next phase of expansion moves away from grid squares to large scale, mixed use, higher density developments which are more based on public transport than private car usage.

Contents

[edit] Milton Keynes

Main articles: Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Milton Keynes (borough), English Partnerships, and History of Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is a purpose-built, 'new city' in South East England. It is located about 45 miles (75 km) north west of London and approximately mid-way between Oxford and Cambridge. With other towns it forms the unitary authority of the Borough of Milton Keynes.

Although legally Milton Keynes is still a town rather than a city, the term "city" is widely used locally to describe the larger urban area and "town" is used for the earlier settlements. This avoids a great deal of ambiguity and confusion, and is the convention used in this article.

[edit] Immediate impact: East and West flanks

The immediate practical impact of the Government's plans was its publication on 24 March 2004 of a Statutory Instrument, the Milton Keynes (Urban Area and Planning Functions) Order 2004, SI 2004 No.932,[2] that expanded the designated area to include large greenfield blocks to the west and east of the original area. These blocks are to be developed by 2015 at the latest, substantially so by 2011. These developments are discussed further below.

[edit] Milton Keynes Partnership's strategy

MKP's strategy until 2031 is set out in their "A Strategy for Growth to 2031" document [3]. Their model for the next phase of expansion moves away from grid squares to large-scale, mixed-use, higher-density development. They hope that this will lead to a greener, more sustainable Milton Keynes, less dependent upon the private car. Their aim is to encourage a shift towards alternative transportation such as buses and cycling as well as providing a more pedestrian-friendly environment, particularly within Central Milton Keynes ("CMK"). The strategy does not explain how high density development on the east and west flank expansion areas furthers this objective. The draft strategy proposes that "of the outstanding 34,600 new houses to be accommodated up to 2031, between 11,000 and 14,000 will be located within the existing urban area and the remaining 20,600 to 23,600 through peripheral growth of the city."

[edit] Central Milton Keynes

The most significant areas for urban intensification are in Central Milton Keynes ("CMK") and at the northern and southern edges of Campbell Park (see below). Within CMK, development will intensify the existing provision, the most significant being a mixed-use office and retail development known as "The Hub:MK" (originally, "CBX III"). Other proposals for CMK will see the removal and building upon the somewhat profligate surface car parks — particularly along Avebury Boulevard. These will be replaced by multi-storey car parking, releasing the land for better use. One of the current criticisms of CMK is (with the notable exception of the Xscape dome) the lack of "landmark" buildings. Their Hub:MK development is intended to rectify this with buildings of between 8 and 14 storeys in height. These stand out from existing development, which in general is around 4 storey. Other taller structures are being built in the central grid squares, including a new 8 storey building in the Theatre District and a 9 storey building partially housing a new Sainsbury's store. Recently plans were announced in both of the local newspapers for a new 20 story building with a rooftop restaurant planned for the west end development.

[edit] Campbell Park

In Campbell Park, the intent is to create "a vibrant 24 hour community to bring life into the centre". Development will consist, they say, of high quality apartments with live / work spaces. A series of 'green fingers' or 'wildlife corridors' will be created running out from the park in the centre to the neighbouring areas of Conniburrow to the north and Springfield to the south. These corridors are intended not only to allow wildlife movement throughout the park but to encourage people from other areas to come and use it. The strategy proposes a density of 100 dwellings per hectare, primarily for one or two person households. Additionally, a marina on the Grand Union Canal is planned for the east of the grid square, near the junction with the proposed Bedford Arm of the canal. These areas will be built up as town houses and 3-5 story apartments.

[edit] East and west flanks

In the shorter term, MKP have created development briefs for the East and West flanks that call for high density development well away from the centre, without any grid roads (although featuring 'city streets' which serve a similar purpose but do not follow the grid pattern and lack the green spaces on either side).The areas will have restricted parking facilities — expecting instead that the population will rely on public transport. The target density here is 35 dwellings per hectare. The larger of these begins south of Stony Stratford in the parish of Calverton and is an area the size of three grid squares (about 3km²) but without any grid roads. This area has been named 'Fairfield'. In his ruling that this development be near Stony Stratford rather than near Whaddon, the Planning Enquiry Inspector remarked that expansion towards Whaddon is inevitable in future developments (beyond the timescale of the plan) unless further expansion crosses the M1. In his view, the M1 need not be considered a barrier to development — though this is contrary to the view of the present Borough Council administration.

On the eastern flank, the first area to be built on will be 'Broughton Gate' (bounded by Broughton, Kingston and the A5130). This will include an extension to the H7 Chaffron Way grid road as far as the A5130, but will not continue on to pick up Salford Road and its M1 crossing, thus impeding any further expansion east of the M1. (The plan actually proposes that this route be downgraded to a Redway. A second M1 crossing, Broughton Grounds Lane, is ignored completely).[4] After this the area to the east of the A5130 as far as the M1 motorway and bounded on the south by the A421 will be developed in parts as a residential and industrial estate. The H7 will again extend east through this area, as a city street, turning south upon meeting another city street and meeting the A421. Along the A421 a new employment complex named 'Nova' is planned. Whilst acknowledging the benefit of the grid system, the plan explicitly rules out any role for the former A5130 as a V12 grid route and the development map shows that HGVs will not be permitted to use it.[5]

Further expansion is proposed for the south-east and south-west flanks - see (below)

[edit] Oakgrove Millennium Community

At Oakgrove (near Middleton), they proposed[6] initially to divert and funnel the V10 Brickhill Street through the heart of the new community and build over the space vacated, including the green routes on either side of it. The Parks Trust (who own the land) were deeply opposed to this proposal and declared that they would not release it without a compulsory purchase order. In the light of overwhelmingly negative comment, the Borough Council stated that it would oppose the proposal.

Oakgrove is planned to be a completely different style of estate featuring new traffic calming measures, a wildlife corridor and high-density housing, constructed as part of the national Millennium Communities Programme.[7]

On February 28 2007 the MK News newspaper reported that the V10 diversion plan had been abandoned. The Citizen confirmed this the following day. English Partnerships have reportedly stated that they respect the importance of the grid system to the population of Milton Keynes. However, Council Leader Isobel McCall states that she continues to support the "City Street" concept, saying that there was no formal opposition to the concept when first proposed (without saying when any opportunity to do so ever arose).[8]

[edit] South-east and south-west expansion

The Draft Strategy proposes (at 13.10)

Growth Area (GA) 1 - South East

The South-eastern Growth Area consists of approximately 385 hectares (951 acres) of land, and is a triangular parcel of land extending from the existing built up area of Milton Keynes around Wavendon east towards the M1 motorway. This parcel of land is bounded by the A421 to the north, the M1 to the east and the Marston Vale Line to the south." Access to this area will be made by extending the H10 Bletcham Way. The report goes on to say (13.31, .32) that the development will sweep around Woburn Sands and Aspley Guise without coalescing with them, but that Wavendon will be assimilated. This area is currently being considered as a 'reserve', and greater priority has been given to the Linford Park (northern), Fairfield (western) and Broughton Gate/Nova (eastern) expansion sites mentioned above.

Growth Area (GA) 2 and 3 – South West

The South-western Growth Area is approximately 875 hectares (2,161 acres) and is bounded at its north-east by the southwest point of the existing built up area (Bletchley) and at its East by the brickflelds and landfill site to the south of Bletchley. The area is enclosed to the north by the A421 (running east to west across Milton Keynes) and at the south by the road running southwest from Water Eaton to Drayton Parslow." This will absorb and expand Newton Longville in a similar way to the other villages that predate the new city. Providing transport links into this area will be difficult as no sizable roads exist between the end of the V7 Saxon Street in central Bletchley and the A4146 much further south. However, a new station for Newton Longville (on the former Varsity Line to Bletchley) is included in the plan. Development of these proposals is not anticipated before 2021

In the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East England region, the Panel recommends some changes to the Council's proposals.

[edit] Northern expansion

There are two sites to the north of the city that have been designated as expansion areas. The first is named 'Linford Park' and is a residential and industrial district located north of Giffard Park near the M1 Motorway service station. Construction is already underway on this district. The other area is called 'Stantonbury Park Farm' and will consist of a small residential development north east of New Bradwell. Construction on this commenced in February 2008.

[edit] Urban intensification

MKP believes that the settlements along Saxon Street (V7) are insufficiently dense to support a sustainable public transport strategy. In a leaked [9] report[10], MKP appears to be proposing demolition and rebuilding up to six districts at higher population density. The report ackowledges that ""Milton Keynes is a planned city and therefore does not contain the obvious degraded and run-down districts that many of our cities possess: areas which clearly lend themselves to policy interventions, aimed at securing urban regeneration and tackling social exclusion." Nevertheless, it does correctly identify some early building that will not last another 25 years. "6.4 Much of the housing within this area was built using innovative construction methods and materials such that many are likely to be nearing the end of their structural life well before 2031, despite some renovation and improvement work that has taken place in certain areas. The declining housing standards are reflected in the findings of the city’s Social Atlas that shows the highest levels of social deprivation are found within these areas." The target density here is 40 dwellings per hectare.

Responding[11], MKP's chairman Sir Bob Reid denied that any such decision had been taken.

[edit] Reaction of existing residents and neighbouring councils

As might be anticipated, these plans are controversial. Two former staff members of Milton Keynes Development Corporation (an architect/ex County Councilor and a Professor of town planning) have written[12] to the local papers in vehement terms, decrying the poverty of imagination and conventional-town thinking being displayed in the proposals. They argue for an international competition to provide an inspiring vision for the next 25 years. The chairman of local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses remarks "The consultants have picked up a standard report and inserted a few MK references. Nowhere in the document is there an understanding of how Milton Keynes has got to where we are today and why we are successful."

Commenting on the plans, Aylesbury Vale District Council said (8 August 2006) 'Expansion plans for Milton Keynes are "seriously and fundamentally flawed" '. The council’s response[13] criticises the growth plans for:

  • Failing to take proper account of public opinion and the concerns and issues raised by earlier public consultation
  • Not doing enough to accommodate more housing within Milton Keynes
  • Failing to identify a new transport strategy for public transport and other environmentally friendly modes of transport, both for the existing city and the expansion areas
  • Not taking proper account of the impact on either the existing communities that will be affected or the local landscape
  • Not giving proper consideration to the growth options to the east of the M1 motorway
  • Failing to identify defined boundaries to the urban area to provide long-term protection for the countryside around Milton Keynes, particularly those areas adjacent to the planned growth near Newton Longville

Subsequently, Buckinghamshire County Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council commissioned Town Planning consultants Colin Buchanan and Partners to review the expansion proposals. According to Bucks CC, Buchanan found the MKP plans to be flawed in both research and conclusions.[1] The two councils press strongly for any expansion to occur east of the M1 motorway, between Moulsoe and Newport Pagnell.

In February 2007 a number of local residents formed an organisation named Urban Eden dedicated to preserving the original vision of Milton Keynes and opposing many of the expansion plans. The group's website has more information. Additionally in May 2007 an online petition to the Prime Minister was started to oppose the plans for the WEA and get the grid system extended. On its third day the petition had achieved 300 signatures.

[edit] Draft Regional Spatial Strategy - The South East Plan: Panel Report

In their report on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South-East Region, the Planning Inspectors Panel made a number of important statements that affect the expansion of Milton Keynes to 2026.[14]

  • The plan should add 2,400 dwellings for housing outside the Milton Keynes urban area to the district-wide total. (para 23.39)
  • They saw 'no reason for Newport Pagnell to have a significantly higher level of growth than previously, unless it were incorporated into a planned expansion of Milton Keynes east of the M1', adding that they do not see any need for this before 2026. They go on to note the southwards expansion of Newport Pagnell (towards Moulsoe) is constrained by the flood plain of the River Great Ouse at Caldecote. (para 23.40)
  • In reference to expanding the grid system into the expansion areas, they were "not convinced" that this would necessarily be the most appropriate solution for future expansion. (para 23.62)
  • The scale of the south east extension area should be larger than recommended in the MK 2031 strategy, and the south west be proportionately smaller. (paras 23.123, 23.124) and that the start of construction in the south east extension area should be phased for 2011-16 and for the south west 2016-21. (paras 23.127- 23.130) The panel's version of the expansion will fill the wedge between the Marston Vale Line and the M1, potentially as far as Junction 13.
  • The text should make clear that the housing levels are consistent with the overall aspiration for 68,600 additional homes 2001-31 in the MKSM strategy, and clarify that additional employment land will be provided as part of the future urban extensions to Milton Keynes. (paras 23.37, 23.23)
  • While declining to be specific about planning guidance beyond the scope of the Inquiry (i.e., to 2026), the Inspectors do not consider that they would be justified at this stage in ruling out provision to the east of the M1 after 2026 or in identifying the M1 as a permanent boundary for the city. (paras 23.131).

[edit] Consultants' review of the Panel Report on behalf of the Councils affected

In response to the Panel Report, the Councils and District Councils of Aylesbury Vale, Mid-Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes jointly commissioned consultants GVA Grimley to prepare a report[15] on the likely real-world impacts of its proposals for south-west and south-east "Strategic Development Areas" (SDAs). In summary, it concludes that the proposals as stated would not be realistic and goes on to propose a modified version.

It concludes that the South East SDA (the wedge between the M1 and the Marston Vale line with its apex near Junction 13) will not accommodate the 10,400 dwellings at 30 per hectare (30 dph) as proposed in the Panel Report, though it could do so 40 or 50dph. The Consultants view is that the highest density would not be appropriate. Short of a density even greater than 50 dph, there is insufficient land in Mid-Bedfordshire to accommodate the 5,600 dwellings proposed by the Panel. The consultants recommend a density of 40/45 dph here, with a green buffer around Aspley Guise, albeit with access to its station.

It concludes that the South West SDA cannot be constrained at its southern boundary by the (disused) Bletchley-Oxford line without unacceptable ribbon development along the A421 south of Whaddon. Accordingly, it proposes that development be moved closer to Far Bletchley and Newton Longville, with a green buffer around the latter and a clear western boundary east of Whaddon. For this SDA, the consultants recommend a density of 30/40 dph.

The Councils have yet to respond to the review. It is clear that its proposals are inconsistent with Mid-Bedfordshire's wish for a very large green belt south of the city.[16]

[edit] Grid system expansion plans already in the pipeline

Despite of the new developments not following the grid principle, several new extensions are planned to the grid network. They are listed below in numerical order, listing H-roads first.

  • H4 Dansteed Way western: As part of the WEA plans the H4 will extend along the land reserved for it west of its present end in Grange Farm to link up with the extended V2 (see below).
  • H7 Chaffron Way western: A downgraded H7 is planned to extend further between Kingsmead and Tattenhoe Park, according to the Kingsmead South master plan.
  • H7 Chaffron Way eastern: the H7, as a 'city street' is planned to extend through Broughton Gate (Eastern Expansion Area) to the A5130.
  • V2 Tattenhoe Street north: The V2 will extend north to the top of Grange Farm before becoming a 'city street' and running north into Fairfield (Western Expansion Area). It will not extend to the east of Stony Stratford.
    • (V6 Grafton Street south-east (to connect Granby with Sherwood Drive for Bletchley Park developments) via a new bridge over the West Coast Main Line: In 2004, urban design officers for Milton Keynes Borough Council proposed[17] (in its "Central Bletchley Renewal Strategy"[18]) this extension. Doing so would have relieved pressure on the heavily congested Saxon Street/Watling Street and the Buckingham Road/Saxon Street junctions. However, the Council declined to approve it and a subsequent amendment[19] records that it has been deleted.)
  • V7 Saxon Street north: In the form of a 'city street', the V7 will penetrate the new district of Statonbury Park Farm and loop round back on to the old Newport Pagnell - Wolverton Road, according to the master plan for the development.
  • V8 Marlborough Street south: The V8 is planned to run alongside the A5 to join H10 Bletcham Way at Fenny Lock.
  • V10 Brickhill Street north: The V10 is being extended north to meet Little Linford Lane, providing an alternative route from Newport Pagnell at the Poets Estate. However this stretch is not designated 'V10' and will have a 30mph speed limit.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Milton Keynes to double in size over next 20 years (Guardian)
  2. ^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/uksi_20040932_en.pdf
  3. ^ (June 2006, 3MB PDF)
  4. ^ http://www.miltonkeynespartnership.info/dfiles/PlanningApps/EEADevelopmentFramework.pdf EEA Development Framework, map 3.3, page 27
  5. ^

    "3.7.4 The A5130 links the Kingston [H8/H9] and Northfield [H5/H6] roundabouts through the EEA. This is a single carriageway route which, although not designed as a grid road, currently acts as one. It provides all-purpose access to Broughton and Kingston and other farms and businesses in its vicinity. More minor routes connect to the A5130, the most significant being the Salford Road, which provides access to Salford and to the A421 near Junction 13, thus providing a potential rat-run. [etc] 3.7.6 The main transportation access to the EEA will involve the construction of 'City Streets' rather than grid roads as, despite their great benefits, the extension of the grid road network may not deliver the most sustainable approach to transportation in the EEA."

    http://www.miltonkeynespartnership.info/dfiles/PlanningApps/EEADevelopmentFramework.pdf
  6. ^ Partnership avoids grid road question (Citizen)
  7. ^ the development website
  8. ^ More talks on A5130 'city street' plans - News - MK News
  9. ^ 'Bombshell' of leaked expansion report (Citizen)
  10. ^ Annex 7 Final Urban Potential Study June 2006 (1.4MB PDF))
  11. ^ MK Partnership chairman Sir Bob Reid responds (Citizen)
  12. ^ City revamp is 'madness' (Citizen)
  13. ^ Council voices concerns over Milton Keynes growth plans - AVDC
  14. ^ Draft Regional Spatial Strategy - The South East Plan Government Office of the South East
  15. ^ SDA Study 2008- New report on longer term city growth areas
  16. ^ See appendix to the full Grimlety report.
  17. ^ page 21 "Bletchley Park Avenue"
  18. ^ MK Council - Urban Design - MKWeb
  19. ^ http://www.mkweb.co.uk/urban-design/documents/amendments_page.pdf

[edit] External links