Victory for East of M1 Campaigners

3.39.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 8th May 2009

The campaign by the Liberal Democrat-run Milton Keynes Council to stop government plans to build a town of 5,600 houses east of the M1 has been victorious and the Government has completely withdrawn the proposals.

The proposed Strategic Development Area (SDA) East of the M1 has been deleted in the final version of the South East Plan, published on 6 May.

This SDA was only added to the Plan by the Government at the last stage of development of the Plan in July last year, against the recommendations from the Examination In Public, and was strongly objected to by the Council, Milton Keynes Partnership, the SE Regional Assembly, the Environment Agency and local residents.

Cabinet member for strategic planning, Liberal Democrat councillor Douglas McCall said: "I am delighted that the Government has seen sense in the end and has withdrawn their proposals for a new town almost as large as Newport Pagnell to be built east of the M1. The other good news is that we will not be required to find room for these proposed additional 5,600 houses anywhere else in Milton Keynes."

Local ward councillor and founder of NEEM1 (No Expansion East of the M1), Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Potts, said: "This is a great victory for the residents of the Ouse Valley villages and a kick in the teeth to the Buckinghamshire Tories who proposed the idea in the first place. I would like personally to thank local residents, campaigner Pat Seymour, the Parish Councils and NEEM1 for their excellent support."