“Don’t use our road as a rat run to new 900-home development in Milton Keynes”

A petition with 85 signatures has been lodged with Milton Keynes Council planners over access to the development of up to 930 new homes at the Tickford Fields Farm site in Newport Pagnell.

A planning application is currently being considered by borough planners.

Petitioners from Morello Way made it clear that they aren’t against the development itself, but are concerned about the “proposed cut through”. Morello Way is itself a relatively new development of 70 homes.

They have told the borough that 930 houses could mean 1,860 cars, plus others for visitors, using Morello Way.

Petitioners said: “Despite Morello Way being classed as a secondary road, in reality…. will automatically become the primary choice for traffic and will create a ‘rat run’.”

They are not convinced that some proposed traffic calming measures will put drivers off.

The 45.17 hectare Tickford Fields Farm site, owned by MK Council, has long been on the table as development site, and now a application is being considered by the borough’s own planning department.

Agent DLP Planning, in background documents supplied to the borough say proposals for the use of Morello Way have been explored in detail. They say they want to “ensure that the configuration and street character of this access will prevent a rat-run scenario.”

They are suggesting traffic calming features such as carriageway narrowing, chicanes, and speed tables, as well as changes to road surfaces to make the route “less desirable when compared to the primary access.”

Highways experts at the council have yet to lodge their thoughts on the application.

In a move that the council says is separate to the planning process, MK Council in January signed off an estimated £200,000 contract to provide “property related advice” for the site.

American commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE has been given a one year deal, to be reviewed in December.

A council spokesman said: “This is a contract to provide property related advice to MKC and MKDP for the eventual delivery of the site including matters such as marketing and sales. This is separate to the development control process.

“As with all planning applications, the plans will be subject to a formal consultation as part of the planning process.”

The borough is working with its arms-length asset development company, Milton Keynes Development Partnership, on the proposal.

The application proposes the demolition of the existing farm buildings, and the building of a new community of 930 homes, a primary school, a local centre and space for sports pitches and play areas.

The site has been earmarked for development by Newport Pagnell Town Council, in its approved neighbourhood plan.

They have held meetings during the last three and-a-half years, and the town council had no further comments to add.

Other concerns have been made about traffic and flooding on the site.