Media Releases
News Release : 25 July 2001MILTON KEYNES AND SOUTH MIDLANDS STUDY CONSULTANTS APPOINTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TOOK A BIG STEP towards a new vision for the South Midlands area and Milton Keynes today, appointing a consortia of leading consultants to look closely over the next year at the potential of the sub-region. The study, led by planners and economists Roger Tym & Partners in association with infrastructure consultants Halcrow and Three Dragons, will cover parts of three regions - the South East, the East of England and the East Midlands. It will help the three regional planning bodies decide what levels of long-term growth the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-region can realistically sustain and support, looking ahead 20-30 years. The independent study team will also be looking at what future provision will be required in terms of housing and transport links throughout the sub-region. Mike Gwilliam, Director of Planning and Transport at the South East England Regional Assembly and Chair of the Study Steering Group said: "One of the major tasks of the study will be to determine the exact boundaries of the sub-region, roughly based on Milton Keynes, and covering Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire." The initiative is ground-breaking in cutting across the boundaries of three English regions to identify a specific area that is capable of delivering economic performance on a scale appropriate to projected opportunities. Alan Moore of the East of England Local Government Conference said: "The sub-region is at the meeting point of three regions - the South East, East Midlands and Eastern England and therefore has required us to co-ordinate our thinking between the regions and jointly commission the study." Ian Achurch of the East Midlands Local Government Conference said: "The study is important in that the sub-region has been identified as a potential growth area. The findings will be used to help provide planning guidance in regional strategic and local plans." The scope of the study will cover the potential impacts on such towns as far apart as Luton and Corby. The proposed East-West rail link, re-connecting Oxford and Cambridge, will also have an effect on travel, and the study will link closely with a major transport study of the M1 corridor, already underway. Growth options will be carefully weighed and Bill Brisbane, managing partner at Roger Tym & Partners and the study director, states the "Government's four key aims for sustainable development will be at the heart of the study. High and stable levels of economic growth have to be achieved whilst ensuring social progress, environmental protection and the prudent use of natural resources." He stresses the importance of taking a holistic approach to sustainability, so as to find the ways in which economic prosperity can be fostered without creating unacceptable development pressures or environmental damage. The study is being funded jointly by Government and key partners. About 80 stakeholders will be involved in the study, including the three regional assemblies, the three regional development agencies, the three Government Offices and local county and district councils. As a first step, stakeholder meetings will be held in September at three main centres - Northampton, Milton Keynes and Bedford, in order to understand local views on where they want development to take place, and what they believe is sustainable. Thereafter, continued stakeholder involvement will be progressed through regular "themed" focus group meetings. Said Mike Gwilliam: "We will issue regular progress bulletins, so that local people can be kept in touch with the Study's progress." ContactLesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223 Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221
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