"Regeneration is Not Just About Housing" say Lib Dems

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Jun 2006

The Liberal Democrat-led Council say that regeneration is about education, skills and improving health, not just housing. Regeneration only works if residents own it and drive the process. Rejection of any reliance on demolition in future growth plans and a commitment to regeneration being driven by local people are key features of a cabinet report, published today.

The report spells out clearly the position of the Council's Liberal Democrat administration on the growth plans for Milton Keynes recently agreed by Milton Keynes Partnership Committee (MKP). The Council has to submit an initial response to the South East Plan setting out the number of new properties it thinks can be accommodated within the existing boundaries of Milton Keynes by the year 2026 and the key infrastructure requirements.

There will be a major public consultation on the proposals over the summer and the Council will submit a more detailed final response in the autumn. The Liberal Democrats will ensure the final response takes full account of the outcomes of the consultation.

Liberal Democrat Council Leader, Isobel McCall, said: "I am delighted that MKP agreed a growth strategy that does not assume any programme of demolition. However, I am disappointed that the Labour and Conservative members of MKP were the only ones not to support this. The responsibility for taking these controversial growth plans forward has now been passed to the Council. It is important that we make it absolutely clear that the proposed housing numbers can be delivered without any demolition.

"Milton Keynes is in danger of becoming a two-speed city. It is important that the older and more deprived areas of the city do not get left behind as the city goes from strength to strength. In the coming years, the Council and others will need to work with communities in the more deprived areas to deliver the improvements that residents in these estates wish to see."

The Cabinet report also says that community support for growth is dependent on infrastructure being delivered at the right time and that the city's green infrastructure must be maintained and extended. Liberal Democrats will fight hard to ensure this is delivered.