Joy for council as secretary of state supports ‘democratic’ Milton Keynes planning decisions

At stake if Milton Keynes Council had lost the defence of its five year housing land supply was the whip hand being tilted towards developers.

Developer Wavendon Properties had seen the chance to put their foot in the policy door. A planning inspector last year decided that the council did not have enough land put aside for five years of housing.

The company went to the High Court and got them to quash planning refusal and give them another chance to build 203 homes and a doctor’s surgery between in Woburn Sands.

A re-run public local inquiry was held from January 14-23. The inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge came down in favour of the council.

Now the Secretary of State has confirmed the inspector’s decision.

“Overall, the Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector’s conclusion that the

council can demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites,” said a decision letter from the Government that was sent on June 25.

The Government believes that the scheme would give significant benefits in terms of new homes and the economy. But it would not be in the right place according to planning policies.

The developer now has a right to challenge the decision in the High Court.

The councillor with responsibility for planning in Milton Keynes said the decision supports the democratic decision making process.

Cabinet member Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew (Stony Stratford) said: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision and have had full confidence in our position throughout.

“It fully validates the approach set out in Plan:MK which was adopted by the Council last year.

“Our five-year housing supply in MK has been made clear, and we’re in a very strong position to continue to make democratic decisions about the future growth and development of Milton Keynes.”