Council drops objections to mega warehouse site south of Milton Keynes

A virtual planning public inquiry was told this week that the developers, HB (South Caldecotte) Limited has come up with a redesigned scheme that protects important Roman ruins.

The original plan was thrown out in February this year by the elected development control committee at Milton Keynes Council.

As well as archaeology, councillors were also concerned that there would be a loss of biodiversity and big traffic problems. But issues have now been resolved as far as planning officers are concerned.

In his concluding submission to the virtual public inquiry yesterday afternoon (Monday), the council’s barrister, Richard Wald QC said the decision to withdraw objections was a “real world approach.”

“It is proper and necessary for the council to take the decision under delegated powers without the delays of referring it back to the planning committee,” he said.

He pointed out that the council was withdrawing its objections but left the decision on whether to grant permission to government inspector, David Prentis.

The deal emerged at the inquiry last Tuesday (September 1) and the council agreed to it the next day, Mr Wald said.

The inquiry had been scheduled to last 11 days but the deal meant it closed on Monday after five days.

“It met the test for an amendment without the need for further consultation,” Mr Wald said, responding to resident Sue Malleson who said it should have gone back to the development control committee.

Mr Wald claimed that the issue could have been dealt with without a public inquiry but that “engaging with the appellants in February would have been a fruitless task.”

He claimed the developers only came forward with a plan to protect the Roman ruins once the inquiry started.

But his opposite number, Paul Tucker QC, hit back by claiming that the council’s position had only become clear once the inquiry opened.

He welcomed that “amity had been reached” and hoped that it mark be a “paradigm shift for the economic benefit of the people of Milton Keynes.”

As well as deciding whether to agree to the deal, Mr Prentis will also have to decide on how much the developers will have to pay for redway improvements and biodiversity protection.

The two sides disagree on the amount the developers will have to pay.

Local residents also challenged an allocation of £250,000 to Hazard Alley road safety “when it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Bow Brickhill.”

They wanted the money to go to a new community hall in the village.

Some local politicians now believe that the huge warehouse park will be built against the development control committee, local ward councillors and local residents’ wishes.

One councillor said: “There are mounting concerns that MK Council’s planning department could be sleepwalking their way into another planning controversy similar to the one facing residents in Blakelands over a warehouse development on the estate.”