Cheerleaders in Milton Keynes hoping that council will agree to dance to their tune

Milton Keynes Cheerleading Academy (MKCA) has been so successful over the last 18 years that it now needs more space to be able to train hundreds of children in the city.

Although the not-for-profit community organisation MKCA has not been able to hold its meetings until very recently because of lockdown restrictions, its leaders have been planning for the future.

They have been looking for a space with ceilings that are at least 5.5 metres high because their moves include lifts, throws and stacks which can include people standing on top of each other.

“MKCA is recognised as one of the UK’s most successful youth programs, as well as one of Britain’s best all-round cheerleading programmes,” says a statement from the group’s planning agent.

“MKCA’s mission is to inspire young people to reach their full potential, by providing: the highest level of training and coaching; structured engagement in a team environment; and providing excellent opportunities to develop leadership skills.”

In planning terms the group has applied to change the use of the unit in Potters Lane, Kiln Farm, from an industrial unit to a cheerleading and gymnastics academy. The unit’s last industrial occupier had been printer DRS Bureau.

MKCA’s agent, Smith Jenkins Town Planning, has told council planners that they can justify the change of use.

They say the unit has been marketed with no luck for four months, and the proposed use, as a cheerleading and gymnastics academy, would not have any detrimental environmental impact.

Real estate consultants Lambert Smith Hampton have said there is very little to suggest that there is a reasonable prospect of the unit being used for the existing use or any other employment based use.

To find out more about the academy visit http://mkca.co.uk/