£23 million allocated by Government for major Milton Keynes schemes

10.10.34pm GMT Mon 20th Feb 2006

All good things come in threes but in this case it's four with the announcement of a package of funding for major improvement schemes in Milton Keynes from the Government.

The schemes are new developments in Bletchley, expansion to Milton Keynes General Hospital, and improvements to public transport and to Junction 14 of the M1. The money is being allocated by central Government to support expansion in the South East.

The Bletchley scheme, which has been allocated £4.8 million, centres around the redevelopment of the existing Bletchley Leisure Centre site to provide a brand new state-of-the art leisure centre, associated healthy living facilities and 300 mixed housing units (30% of which will be affordable). Princes Way will be made more pedestrian friendly as part of the scheme.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Euan Henderson, Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes Council, commented: "This is a landmark project that will give a huge boost to the regeneration of Bletchley. We are already well advanced with planning for the new leisure centre in full consultation with the people of Bletchley."

The money for Milton Keynes General Hospital (£7.2 million) will unlock land for future hospital development by consolidating car parking provision into multi-storey parking and provide land for much-needed key worker housing on site.

Transport improvements (allocated £3 million) promise better access to public transport and increased capacity. The scheme will link the eastern and western expansion areas of the city with the city centre and the hospital.

The fourth piece of good news is that improvements to Milton Keynes M1 Junction 14 are also included in the funding. The scheme has been allocated up to £8.42m and includes the long-awaited re-vamp of the Coachway.