New 500 home development in Milton Keynes countryside gets refused

MK Council’s Development Control Committee has voted against the proposed development at Levante Gate, adjacent to the A5 ‘McDonald’s’ roundabout.

The site was not included in any of the council’s strategic plans and is designated as an Area of Attractive Landscape for future generations.

Protesters claim the developers hoped to take advantage of the council’s perceived shortfall in five year land supply to get its proposal through.

Paul Simpson, chair of BRAID (Brickhill Residents Against Inappropriate Development), said ‘This decision shows that MK councillors, after serious deliberation, value good planning in the interest of existing and future residents. The Guinness Partnership have produced a proposal to build 500 much needed homes including 40 per cent affordable housing which we would urge them to build on an allocated site where the infrastructure can accommodate the development.”

Councillor David Hopkins said: “I am delighted that good planning considerations won the day and the hard work of MK’s strategic planners prevailed.”

The site is in the corridor of the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Expressway and there was concern that development could compromise this.

The Levante Gate development had been recommended for approval by Milton Keynes Council Planning officers.

But development control councillors rejected the application by six votes to two.

Their reasons were that the land is classed open countryside and lies within a designated area of attractive landscape.

Planning officers admitted the scheme “would represent an intrusive form of development” in the rural area,

The Guinness Partnership lodged the application for the 75 acre plot in December 2017.

BRAID’s Paul Simpson said: “The recognition of the importance of the countryside surrounding Milton Keynes and the context it provides contributing to our quality of life is true to the vision of the original planners.”

More than 90 residents attended the meeting.

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