Liberal Democrat Council Agrees Guidelines on Western Development Framework

11.06.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 26th Jun 2005

Crucial guidelines on the future development of a major site on the west flank of Milton Keynes have been agreed by the Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet.

At its recent meeting, the cabinet agreed to make changes to the draft Development Framework for the Western Expansion Area, taking on board comments made during a public consultation earlier in the year. The cabinet also agreed to adopt the revised Framework so that it can be used to inform decisions on planning applications.

Councillor Graham Mabbutt, Liberal Democrat cabinet member with responsibility for strategic planning, said: "This Framework will provide invaluable advice for Milton Keynes Partnership when they are considering planning applications for the development of the Western Expansion Area.

"It provides broad design guidelines for development of this major site and helps us to build on the principles set out in the Milton Keynes Local Plan. It sets the scene for further, more detailed design guidance that will follow."

The Western Expansion Area is a large area of land located to the west of Watling Street, north of H4 and south of The Ridgeway, Calverton End. The development will provide some 6000 new homes over the next 10 years and includes an extensive range of facilities for the new residents, including:

• four new combined schools and one new secondary school

• new health facilities

• shops and other facilities in a central "High Street"

• playing fields and open space

• a burial ground and remembrance garden.

The design of the roads through the development includes a bus lane running alongside the main road, together with space for cyclists and pedestrians. The Western Expansion Area will be linked to Central Milton Keynes by a new quality east-west bus route and there will be improved bus links north and south to Stony Stratford and Westcroft.

The Framework was agreed following a consultation process on draft proposals which kicked off in November last year with public exhibitions and press notices.