Netherfield to get bungalows, apartments and houses in new scheme.
A contractor has been appointed to build 66 new homes at the former Cripps Lodge in Netherfield.
Milton Keynes City Council has selected Higgins Partnerships to build a range of different homes including two and three-bedroom bungalows, three, four and five-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments to meet local needs.
All properties will have off-road parking, private gardens and access to open green space. The new homes will feature the latest energy efficiency measures to ensure bills remain low for tenants.
Design work is already underway with construction scheduled to begin in early 2026 and completion expected in 2028. The local community will be invited to view the designs and kept informed throughout the project.
Higgins Partnerships was selected through the city council’s More for MK scheme, through which potential contractors are asked to factor in community and social benefits to their bid such as creating local jobs and apprenticeships, building a local supply chain and adding value to the local economy.
Cripps Lodge was previously used for sheltered housing but was demolished in 2020 after it became disused. Since then, the city council has secured planning permission to deliver high-quality, affordable council homes.
This development forms part of the city council’s broader strategy to tackle homelessness and reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation. The strategy includes building new homes, purchasing properties on the open market and supporting people into longer-term housing solutions.
The new build programme is already in progress, with 183 homes under construction at the Lakes Estate, and 21 newly acquired flats in Fairfields which were bought using funding from selling council assets that otherwise would have had to be returned to central government.
“It’s really important that we make good use of sites that are no longer fit for purpose,” said Cllr Ed Hume, Cabinet Member for Housing. “There’s a desperate need for new council homes and I’m pleased that we’re making progress at Cripps Lodge. Many of these homes will be going to people who need extra support and adaptations to get around.”
