Chancellor promises investment in MK

Fears that MK could become a “victim of its own success” have been quashed after Mr Osborne confirmed that its infrastructure needs are treated as a priority.

It comes after MK Council joined forces with other local authorities to form the Fast Growth Cities Network, which launched in Westminster earlier this month.

In a letter to Lord Adonis, the head of the National Infrastructure Commission, Mr Osborne said: “The Commission will look at the priority infrastructure improvements needed, and assess the economic case for which investments would generate the most growth.”

Council Leader Pete Marland recently spoke at the Fast Growth Cities launch, in Westminster, to press the case for Milton Keynes and other cities which risk being overlooked due to their success, stating that to continue to enable growth the Government needed to invest across the area and not take growth here for granted.

Councillor Marland said: “I am pleased Fast Growth Cities’ call for investment in our successful economies is needed to remain successful is gaining some momentum.

“The independent report we launched earlier this month with ‘think-tank’ Centre for Cities highlighted the importance of the Oxford-Milton Keynes- Cambridge corridor for the high skill knowledge economy jobs that are vital for future growth in the UK economy and that the Government should not take this for granted.

“Centre for Cities has long been an avid supporter of MK, praising its economic strength and job creation and general all-round resilience in a tough economic climate.

“However, they recently sounded a massive note of caution, warning that places like Milton Keynes face significant economic challenges which threaten to undermine their continuing economic success in the years to come, including affordability of housing, increasing transport congestion and skills gaps.

“So this letter is very welcome.”