City MP calls on Government to Help Milton Keynes Plan its Future More Effectively
Milton Keynes South MP Iain Stewart has held a debate in the House of Commons to promote the work done by Milton Keynes’ Futures Commission which recently released its paper ‘Making a Great City Greater.’
He also used the findings of the report to call on the Government to support MK on bringing forward economic and housing development across the growing Oxford – MK – Cambridge arch.
In his speech Mr. Stewart said, “During and since the last general election, I have been calling for such a strategic vision to be developed. I was, therefore, delighted when Milton Keynes Council set up the Futures 2050 Commission last year. The commission has speedily but thoroughly produced its conclusions. I am particularly pleased that it sees Milton Keynes very much as an enabler in the development of the wider Oxford-Cambridge corridor. I strongly believe that our future economic development will be centred on us being a hub in the middle of that arc.”
Mr Stewart pushed the Government to help unlock existing housing developments to get builders actually building he said, “My first ask of the Minister today is to explore every possible opportunity and to work with the developers, Milton Keynes Council, South East Midlands local enterprise partnership and all the other stakeholders on upping our annual rate of completions to levels that will satisfy the short to medium-term demand.”
He added, “There are precedents for Government getting involved: one of the Minister’s predecessors helped to unlock the western flank and Newton Leys developments in Milton Keynes when they stalled in the previous Parliament.”
In response Minister for Housing, Brandon Lewis said, “Significant funding is already being invested to support housing growth. More than £200 million of the local growth fund has been prioritised to date to support growth across the south-east midlands and the Northamptonshire areas. We are expecting a further bid for local growth funding from the south-east midlands shortly as part of the current bidding round.”
He added, “I recognise the significant ambitions that Milton Keynes has, both as a city and as part of the wider Oxford-MK-Cambridge arc. We look forward to working with the area on just that.”
