Flawed housing study to be redone

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st May 2006

Liberal Democrat members of Milton Keynes Partnership Committee (MKP) have called for the controversial Urban Potential Study to be scrapped and re-written as it is flawed.

The Liberal Democrats do not believe that the starting point for regeneration proposals should be the need to deliver Government housing targets. "Regeneration needs to be driven by the community and owned by the community. It will not work if it is imposed on people following a consultant's study," said Council Leader, Isobel McCall.

The Urban Potential Study is still being finalised by consultants and has not yet been published. It has been produced to identify how many houses might be built in the existing Milton Keynes urban area to contribute towards John Prescott's housing targets for Milton Keynes. The parts of the study that look at remodelling and possible demolition of some estates have been the subject of recent press speculation.

Cllr Isobel McCall, Leader of Milton Keynes Council, and a member of Milton Keynes Partnership Committee, said: "Neither the Council, nor MKP, have agreed this report. Staff at Milton Keynes Council have a number of serious concerns about the document, its approach to regeneration, and whether the proposals can really be delivered. The Council's concerns have not been taken on board in the latest draft of the document."

Isobel McCall continued: "I have asked today for the study to be scrapped and rewritten as it takes completely the wrong approach to regeneration. Although it hasn't been published, it is causing huge amounts of anxiety in older estates in Milton Keynes, including ones, such as Fishermead and Oldbrook, where there are no demolition proposals. Residents are worrying about the future of their homes. I am delighted that MKP has agreed to look at the study again."

"The Urban Potential Study is a key document that contributes towards the development of the 2031 growth plans for Milton Keynes. The Council needs to be confident that the Study is robust and that the housing numbers in it can be delivered as it will be responsible for taking this work forward. At the moment the Council is far from confident. That is why I have asked for parts of the study to be re-written. If the Council cannot accept the findings of the study, this could threaten the 2031 growth options process," concluded Isobel McCall.