MK City Council announce progress of Milton Keynes City Plan 2050

Plans for how Milton Keynes will change over the next 25 years have moved into the next stage of independent examination and will now see detailed scrutiny from planning inspectors.

The Milton Keynes City Plan 2050 was set out by Milton Keynes City Council to explore how the city can meet future demand for homes, jobs, infrastructure and public services while protecting green spaces, supporting climate action and maintaining the quality of life that residents value.

Every Local Planning Authority (usually a council) must submit a local plan for their area to Government, who will appoint independent planning inspectors to carefully review the plans and ask questions based on years of professional experience to assure themselves that each local plan is sound.

For Milton Keynes, the initial examination process has so far involved 9 days of hearings held over three weeks in which Milton Keynes City Council answered over 300 questions.

Hearings investigate how a local plan covers housing, transport, employment, infrastructure and environmental needs. They give inspectors the opportunity to examine the evidence behind the Plan and hear from the city council, developers, community representatives and other organisations with an interest in Milton Keynes’ future.

Having an up-to-date and robust Local Plan is also important in protecting communities from unplanned development. It provides a clear framework for where growth should take place, helping to ensure new development is supported by the infrastructure and services residents need.

As Milton Keynes grows towards a population of around 400,000 by 2050, the Plan provides a roadmap for managing that growth in a way that benefits both current and future residents. It includes proposals for at least 50,000 additional homes, while supporting investment that will create jobs, strengthen the local economy and help communities thrive.

A key principle running throughout the Plan is that growth should be matched by the infrastructure and facilities people need. New homes should be supported by schools, healthcare services, community facilities, transport links and green spaces.

Looking ahead, the Plan also explores opportunities to improve how people travel around Milton Keynes, including the potential for a metro system linking key growth areas with the city centre. It also sets out other ambitions for the city centre, including new jobs, higher education opportunities and spaces for culture and entertainment.

Since 2023, around 7,000 comments about the draft Plan have been received from residents, businesses and community groups, helping to influence the proposals going forward.

The next stage of the examination will include providing more information to the inspectors on certain issues raised during the first round of hearings. A second round of hearings is expected next year, allowing inspectors to explore their remaining issues in greater detail. The examination remains ongoing until the inspectors’ set out their final conclusions.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability, Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, said, “Reaching this stage is an important milestone for Milton Keynes. The first round of hearings gave us the opportunity to explain the evidence behind the Plan and how it seeks to meet the needs of local people while ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to support future development.

“The Milton Keynes City Plan 2050 is about thinking ahead, creating opportunities for residents and businesses, and planning for sustainable growth. I’d particularly like to thank everyone who has taken part and shared their views on the proposals. It’s important we hear first-hand what’s important to people who chose Milton Keynes as place to live and in many cases want their families to have reasons to remain here including good jobs and affordable homes. Their input continues to play an important role as the examination progresses, and we look forward to engaging with the next stages of the process and responding to any further issues raised by the inspectors.”