Having no supermarket ‘not enough to stop’ Milton Keynes estate regeneration

The development control committee at Milton Keynes Council has resoundingly and unanimously approved a scheme to knock down Serpentine Court and build nearly 600 new homes at the Lakes Estate.

Part of the plan involves the loss of shops as the council seeks to build replacement homes for the residents when they have to move out of Serpentine Court.

Thursday’s meeting was told that the council is looking at the possibility of using a light industrial unit to provide a temporary shop.

The councillors voted to slap what is known as an “informative” on the planning permission, which tells the council to focus its mind on the issue.

Tracy Darke, the council’s planning, strategic transport and placemaking director said: “It would be difficult to impose a condition but having an informative on really focusses the applicant’s mind to try to work through it.

“It is a council scheme at the end of the day, so I’m sure the council will take that on board.”

Members were also concerned that there is no allocated parking scheme, but the committee was told that residents in a consultation said they did not want one.

While supporting the plan in principle, Cllr Allan Rankine (Cons, Bletchley Park) warned of what he saw as risks from a new £4 million green energy centre, which will provide power from solar panels and air source heat pumps.

But the committee concluded that if anything went wrong, the council would be able to blame the council, which is also the developer.

Cllr John Bint (Cons, Broughton), who endorsed enthusiasm for the scheme, said: “If this were any other applicant I would vote against but on this, residents will know who to blame and are protected.”

Cllr Mick Legg (Lab, Bletchley West) put the regeneration plan alongside the hospital, the shopping centre, the theatre and stadium:mk as planning beacons in the city.

“It is the best comprehensive plan we have ever had before us,” he said.

And ward councillor Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East) read out supportive messages from residents of the area who spoke of wanting to get out of mouldy and cold homes.

The plan will see the redevelopment take place in two phases.

Phase A will see 308 new homes built, to be used to rehouse residents from Serpentine Court, and to sell on the open market to help the council pay for the scheme.

Some 192 of the first phase will be built across four sites on the wider Lakes Estate at Stoke Road North and South, Drayton Road, Burnmoor Close/Skene Close and Melfort Drive.

Phase B will see 217 more houses built after Serpentine Court is finally demolished, and extra care housing with another 64 homes.

Work would start as early as 2021 with an expected completion date of 2026/27, the council says.