News Release : 22 March 2005

GOVERNMENT BACKS ASSEMBLY ON MILTON KEYNES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPOSAL

Government has put affordable housing targets back in the final version of the sub-regional strategy for Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale. The South East England Regional Assembly welcomes and supports the targets, 40% affordable homes for Aylesbury Vale and 30% for Milton Keynes, which it had proposed in its original draft of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy.

The Government initially removed the targets following recommendations by an independent Panel conducting the Public Examination into the Strategy. In response to the Assembly’s comments, the Government has now reinstated the targets. The Strategy is a formal revision to Regional Planning Guidance for the South East.

The Assembly has worked closely with the East Midlands and the East of England to create a sustainable development framework for the area and is pleased that their overall approach has been endorsed. Revised planning guidance requires Milton Keynes to build 44,900 homes over the period 2001-2021 of which 30% should be affordable. Aylesbury should seek to accommodate 15,000 homes over the same period.

Cec Tallack, member of the Regional Assembly and Cabinet Member of Milton Keynes Council, said: “We are pleased with the affordable housing targets for Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale and believe this is important for the area. Now, with Government support for the recently announced transport schemes, we can plan for growth in a positive way.”

Milton Keynes transport
The Assembly is particularly pleased with the Government announcement of over £50 million in new funding for transport investment in Milton Keynes and Aylesbury to support the delivery of the Sub-Regional Strategy.

The Assembly has co-ordinated the bidding process for the transport schemes in the region of which the following will receive funding for Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale:

• Upgrade to Milton Keynes Central Station
• Improvement to Junction 14 of the M1 (north of Milton Keynes)
• New railway station in Aylesbury (Aylesbury Parkway Station)
• New public transport hub in Aylesbury (improvements to the bus station and priority)
• New pedestrian cycle bridge in Aylesbury.
  

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Assembly submitted the draft of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy to Government in 2003.
2. Please visit the Government Office for the East Midlands website for the full report.
3. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
4. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
5. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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