Archived press release

Date Published: 08/11/07

Aylesbury Vale District Council has expressed major concerns over plans to expand Milton Keynes towards Newton Longville. At a meeting of the district council’s cabinet last night (6 November), councillors criticised the latest proposals fr...

Aylesbury Vale District Council has expressed major concerns over plans to expand Milton Keynes towards Newton Longville.

At a meeting of the district council’s cabinet last night (6 November), councillors criticised the latest proposals from Milton Keynes Council for future development in and around the city.

The meeting was to consider AVDC’s response to the current public consultation on the proposed growth strategy for Milton Keynes. Planners have identified several areas for development, including land in Aylesbury Vale.

AVDC has consistently voiced its opposition to the scale of development proposed around Newton Longville and has argued that development should be east of the M1 instead. This proposal was rejected in August by a panel of government-appointed inspectors who examined the draft South East Plan – the long-term strategy for future development in the south east region.

The independent review of the plan – known as an Examination in Public (EiP) – recommends that 5,390 new homes be built around the Newton Longville area of Aylesbury Vale by 2026. However, Milton Keynes Council’s preferred option is to build 7,500 new homes around the village.

AVDC believes it is “totally inappropriate” for Milton Keynes Council to propose greater levels of development than that contained in the panel’s report. Although the report does not represent the final decision, the council argues that the 5,390 new homes recommended should be seen as the maximum capacity of the Newton Longville area.

Milton Keynes Council’s draft growth strategy also identifies ‘reserve sites’ for a further 11,850 new homes to the south east of Newton Longville and to the south of Newport Pagnell by 2031, or sooner if other sites do not get developed.

AVDC argues that it is premature to identify reserve sites for growth and would object to any proposals for further development in the Newton Longville area. The council considers areas east of the M1 motorway as more appropriate for any such future development and the panel's report has not ruled this out.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “Our prime concern in responding to this consultation is to protect the integrity, setting and distinctiveness of Newton Longville. The growth proposed by Milton Keynes Council goes well beyond that recommended in the panel’s report and we strongly oppose the proposals put forward.”

The panel’s report will be considered by the Secretary of State and any proposed modifications to the South East Plan are expected to be consulted on at the end of the year or early 2008. Milton Keynes Council insists that any proposed changes made by the Secretary of State will be taken into account when preparing its growth strategy for submission to government.

Further information, along with the consultation document, can be found at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/core-strategy or by contacting Milton Keynes Council’s development plans team by telephone on 01908 252599. The consultation ends on 8 November.