City's Growth Vision Endorsed by Cabinet

9.08.00pm GMT Sun 17th Jan 2010

Milton Keynes Council's Liberal Democrat Cabinet endorsed the "Core Strategy" - a crucial development plan which sets out the vision for the Borough until the year 2026. Having already undergone initial stages of consultation with the public and stakeholders, the Strategy (with some amendments accepted by the Liberal Democrats) was endorsed by the full Council on 12 January.

The Core Strategy's key objective is to develop Milton Keynes as a major city fit for the 21st Century. It provides key objectives and a strategy for the future development of the city and identifies the major areas where growth and change will take place. Highlights include:

• To deliver over 41,360 new homes between 2006 and 2026

• To work jointly with Central Bedfordshire and Aylesbury Vale Councils and other key organisations on the planning and development of 7,390 homes in two Strategic Development Areas on the edge of Milton Keynes

• To deliver a minimum of 65, 040 jobs (1.5 jobs for every house built in the Milton Keynes Growth Area)

• To increase the local level of knowledge and skills through the establishment of a Milton Keynes University

• To promote the development of Central Milton Keynes by making it the main location within the city for retail, leisure and larger office space developments - around 12,000 square metres of new office space per year

• To aim to reduce health inequalities, deprivation and improve housing quality and services for 19 city estates targeted by the Neighbourhood Regeneration Strategy

• To manage increased travel demands through encouraging an increased number of people to walk and cycle by developing an expanded and improved Redway network, and by promoting improvements to public transport and supporting the development of an East-West rail link between Oxford and Cambridge.

Council Leader Councillor Sam Crooks said: "Having listened to the views of our community and stakeholders, we believe the Core Strategy contains the most sustainable and suitable plan for the future development of Milton Keynes. We refer to Milton Keynes as the 'city that thinks differently' and, by 2026, Milton Keynes aspires to be one of the UK's top cities with a reputation as a modern and forward thinking place to live."

For six weeks between Thursday 21 January and Thursday 4 March, the "Submission Version" of the Core Strategy will be available for a final opportunity for the public and other stakeholders to comment.