Council proposals to refocus regeneration on jobs, skills and improving life chances

    Labour-led Milton Keynes Council will move away from regeneration that could involve wholesale demolition, and refocus the project on employment opportunities.

    Instead, the council plans are focused on improving skills and estate renewal, if proposals being considered are agreed by the Council’s Cabinet before Christmas. Last month MK Council passed a new Council Plan with a promise to review the existing regeneration strategy that priorities 7 estates for regeneration.

    Now the MK Council Cabinet Member Nigel Long has said the continued focus and concerns of residents about wholesale demolition of estates has held the project back for too long, and the council will therefore be consulting over the next few months on a new strategy to change the story from one of demolishing homes to building stronger communities. The new strategy will be put before the Cabinet to approve in December.

    Proposals being considered will specifically remove the threat of wholesale demolition on priority estates with more targeted work on specific sites and longer term investment. Physical changes will still be possible, but on a more gradual basis with the emphasis instead placed on improving existing stock and small scale rebuilding and remodelling, if approved by residents as part of a masterplan. Estates that are no longer facing demolition are Netherfield, Coffee Hall, Tinkers Bridge, North Bradville and Beanhill. 

    Work on the Lakes Estate and Fullers Slade will continue as planned, with the current schemes already a significant way into the process, but in future the council will be looking for a lighter touch on physical changes, and more focus on working with residents to improve skills, find better jobs and estate improvements.

    Cllr Nigel Long, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration said: “Regeneration in the old Your:MK model will end. We will be consulting on a new way forward that will give residents certainty that wholesale demolition will not happen, and so hopefully we can change the focus to skills, jobs and estate renewal. Investment will be the proposed priority now.”

    Cllr Alex Walker, Leader of MK Conservatives said: "Labour have abandoned regeneration & they should be ashamed. The party that claims to be for the many has effectively given up on delivering real change for some of our most disadvantaged communities. [They have] ditched a £1bn regeneration investment to improve our most deprived estates. Instead they will do some repairs. How does that improve lives, education outcomes, career earnings or life expectancy? It. Does. Not."

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