The Milton Keynes Tories have written a letter to Peter Marland on the expansion plans for Milton Keynes.
The letter starts, "We have seen reports that you have suggested we have ‘blocked’ millions of pounds of investment through your growth deal for 100k new homes in Milton Keynes by 2050.
We can assure you we do wish to see Milton Keynes continue to grow and flourish, particularly within the context of the Oxford-MK-Cambridge arc. We understand conversations are ongoing between Milton Keynes Council officers and Government officials.
However, we make no apologies for raising our concerns with the Housing Minister about the deal you were putting forward. The fact that at no point did you ask for us to engage with you in this bid is deeply regrettable, as is the fact there has not been any meaningful consultation with residents on your ambition to double our population to 500k by 2050.
We do not share your confidence that the Council has support for this scale of accelerated development within the borough borders. We have seen no evidence that you have considered whether our economy will need such growth, or the impact it would have on our infrastructure."
Peter Marland, leader of MK Council, has responded to the letter, "It is not a case of if Milton Keynes grows, but how Milton Keynes grows. Current Government policy would see growth in MK, but without proper planning and no guaranteed funding for the infrastructure needed. No funding for more schools, and no guaranteed funding to expand our hospital and build new health facilities, or funding to ensure good quality green space. Vitally that growth would be based on homes mainly at market value, not affordable to most people in MK, and planned on a piecemeal system driven by developers. It would be threadbare growth without the levels of funding for infrastructure or affordability that MK expects or needs.
Our deal with Government would have secured millions in extra for infrastructure and more, including a new Mass Rapid Transport system like a tram, and ensure growth is based on a long term sustainable plan. It would also deliver more truly affordable housing.
The choice is therefore becoming clear. Piecemeal growth without a plan and with no guaranteed funding under the Tories, or, planned, sustainable growth under a Labour-run council. It is increasingly apparent that our local MPs blocked this deal either because it's all about their ego and they didn’t like the idea of a Labour Council delivering a deal worth millions for Milton Keynes, or they don’t understand (or aren’t willing admit) their own Government's current planning rules. I am more than willing to help our MPs understand what was in the deal and to address their concerns, if we could pin those down as they change from statement to statement, so they can stop blocking this deal to bring millions of pounds, and a well-planned sustainable future, to Milton Keynes."
