See how this Milton Keynes countryside will change as major new development is planned

Under the council’s MK City Plan 2050, more than 70 hectares of scenic land to the east of Bow Brickhill village has been allocated for a major development of 1,250 new houses.

Called Levante Gate, the project is being managed by Gallagher Developments and is currently in the planning and consultation stages. You can view its special website here.

However, many residents and local officials are far from happy and claim the whole proposal is flawed and should be removed completely from the City Plan and replaced with more sustainable, deliverable alternatives

One Bow Brickhill resident, Alan Preen, who was awarded a BEM for his services to the community, told the Citizen: “I am losing patience with Milton Keynes City Council as mounting evidence shows that the proposed developments south of Bow Brickhill are not just controversial, they are fundamentally unsound.”

He added: “I’ve been raising this for so long that my voice is hoarse, and still, it feels like no one at the Council is listening.

“For months, I and many other residents and Parish Councillors have been lobbying ward councillors to recognise what is now clear: the proposed Levante Gate and South of Bow Brickhill developments fail to meet key national planning tests set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.”

One councillor, Conservative’s David Hopkins, has publicly acknowledged this, saying that the Local Plan is “not sound” and should not proceed .

His view aligns with Bow Brickhill Parish Council’s own evidence: poor sustainability, weak infrastructure, and significant landscape harm, said Alan

"These are developments that should never have made it this far… This isn’t about improving a bad scheme—it’s about stopping a fundamentally flawed one.”

The proposed sites sits in open countryside forming a vital part of the Greensand Ridge setting and are the last open buffer between the unique Greensand Ridge and Milton Keynes’ urban sprawl.

"Each day, young people come to the Wicks (below us) to experience the space, the horizon, and the connection to nature. Build in this vital `Buffer’ and that will be gone forever. There is no replacing it,” said Alan.

“There are also serious concerns around poor transport links, overstretched roads, and the failure to properly consider credible alternatives—all highlighted in the Council’s own Sustainability Appraisal. Too often, infrastructure follows development—if it arrives at all.”

Gallagher developments say the vision for Levante Gate is to create a “vibrant, forward-thinking neighbourhood”on the south eastern edge of Milton Keynes, where contemporary living, sustainable mobility and green infrastructure come together to enhance everyday life and contribute to the city’s long-term growth.

Their proposals include around 1,250 new homes, a new primary school, a local centre, a mobility hub, public open space and sports pitches. Other proposed allocations nearby also include supporting infrastructure, including a secondary school and primary healthcare facilities in the form of GP, pharmacy and dental services.

You can submit your views about Levante Gate here.