Plan to build mini new town spanning Milton Keynes sparks residents' protest

Hallam Land Management is planning to build ‘Keepers Place’ on land south east of Moulsoe, directly north of Broughton and the M1 motorway.

The development would spanning the administrative boundaries of both Milton Keynes City Council and Central Bedfordshire Council.

Though the project is in the early stages and has not yet gone through the planning process, it forms a key part of the first phase of the Eastern City Extension draft allocation in the emerging Milton Keynes City Plan 2050.

This means permission is unlikely to be refused.

But residents in Broughton, together with city Liberal Democrat councillors, are this week calling on Hallam Land Management to “urgently rethink” its plans on the grounds of local disruption that the extra traffic would cause.

The current proposals would allow cars, vans, and lorries to use Broughton Grounds Lane as an access route to and from hundreds of the new Keepers Place homes on the other side of the M1.

They would have to cross the current narrow bridge over the motorway, which would result in a detrimental impact on traffic flow and safety in Brooklands and Broughton Gate, say the protesters.

Councillors Sam Crooks and Nana Ama Ofori-Atta, together with councillor candidate Wing Tsang, have launched a petition opposing the use of Broughton Grounds Lane for through traffic. Hosted on the FOCUS Team website here, the petition has already gained more than 900 signatures.

More residents are being urged to add their names to show the strength of community opposition.

Lib Dem councillor Sam Crooks said: “Allowing heavy traffic to use Broughton Grounds Lane would turn it into a rat run and pile even more pressure on roads that are already busy at peak times. Brooklands residents deserve better than to see their streets used as cut-throughs for developments miles away.”

Cllr Nana Ama Ofori-Atta added:“We are not against new homes, but developments must be planned responsibly. Using Broughton Grounds Lane as an access point will only make congestion and road safetyworse for families in Brooklands and Broughton Gate.”

And Wing Tsang, the Liberal Democrat councillor candidate for Brooklands, said: “The response to this petition shows just how strongly local people feel. Nearly a thousand signatures in such a short time speaks volumes. Hallam Land Management must go back tothe drawing board and find an alternative solution that doesn’t harm our community.”

Residents can view and sign the petition here and the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team is encouraging everyone living in Brooklands, Broughton Gate, and Moulsoe to sign. The results will be presented to Milton Keynes City Council and Hallam Land Management to push for a fairer, safer outcome for local residents.

The Keepers Place plans include various amenities such as employment areas, community hubs, local retail, new primary schools, a secondary school, and extensive green infrastructure.

A spokesperson for Hallam Land said: “We have an exciting opportunity here to create a sustainable, inclusive and well-connected community that meets the aspirations and growing needs of the local area. We are committed to bringing forward an application which offers the homes, jobs and infrastructure to benefit future generations.”