Planning Policy

This part of the Council prepares local planning policies against which most planning applications are judged, including those made and determined by the Milton Keynes Partnership. Planning policies are contained in a folder of documents known as the Local Development Framework. The preparation of these documents is project managed according to the Local Development Scheme, which sets out when the various documents will be prepared over the next 3 years. Eventually they will replace the Local Plan, which was adopted on 21 December 2005 and the Minerals Local Plan. Until then the policies in the Local Plans will remain the basis for day-to-day decisions on planning applications.

In addition to the Local Plan there are a number of supplementary planning guidance/documents.

Whilst we produce most of these documents, other Council departments and partners lead on producing additional documents.

We also work closely with Milton Keynes Partnerships who are the agency who have been set up to deliver growth in Milton Keynes.

On 15th July Cabinet considered the results of the consultation on the Core Strategy Preferred Options document and agreed the next stages and timetable for producing the Submission version of the Core Strategy. Cabinet report

The Core Strategy will set out the Council's position on the vision, objectives and overreaching strategy for the development of the city to 2026 and beyond.

The Council has recently up-dated the Core Strategy background documents with reports on strategic flood risk and targets for sustainable construction and renewable energy.

Click here for more details and key dates.

Updating Consultees Contact Details

Milton Keynes Council will soon be issuing its responses to individual comments made on the Core Strategy Preferred Options. Could those who made comments during the consultation please check that their contact details are accurate. This will allow all those who made comments to receive the relevant response.

To find out how to update your contact details click here.

To log on to Limehouse please click here.

The Government Office for the South East has responded to the Council regarding our proposal of which Local Plan policies should be saved beyond December 2008. Local Plan Saved Policies

The old planning system of Regional Planning Guidance, Structure Plans and Local Plans has been replaced and there are now two levels of plan making - Regional and Local.

Consultation on the proposed changes to the South East Plan ended on the 24th October 2008. To read Milton Keynes Council's consultation response click here MKC's Response to the Proposed Changes to the South East Plan.

A Partial Review of the draft South East Plan is also taking place dealing with regional policy for providing camping pitches for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. An Issues and Options report is out for consultation until 21 November 2008. Regional plan making.

The adopted Waste Development Plan document incorporating the Inspector's changes can now be viewed. Please click the link below.

More details of the document can be found here.

The Council has produced a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Transport Obligations as part of its Local Development Framework. The deadline for comments has now passed but you can still view the draft document online. Click here to see more.

A new, independent, report has been published looking at the possible number of houses in new development areas south east and south west of Milton Keynes. The report, by planning consultants GVA Grimley, is published a few months before the Government revisits the South East Plan, the regional plan for the whole of SE England, which would bring over 50,000 new homes to Milton Keynes and surrounding areas in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire by 2026.
Click here for more information.

The Council has submitted it's 2006/07 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) setting out progress against the Local Development Scheme and the extent to which policies in the Local Plan are being achieved. See the report here.

The Development Plans team has introduded a new system to make it easier for consultation responses to be made online. Limehouse was used for the first time to consult on the Core Strategy Preferred Options and will be used to produce and consult all future planning policy publications.

Click here for an introduction to the Limehouse system.

The Council has adopted the Milton Keynes Urban Development Area Tariff Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The document explains the planning policy context for the Urban Development Area Tariff. Click here to read more.

Milton Keynes Council has produced a Sustainable Construction Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to assist in the delivery of Sustainable Construction Policy D4 of the Local Plan. Cabinet resolved to adopt the document as SPD on 10th April 2007.

You can view the adopted version of the SPD and supporting documents by clicking on the link below.
Sustainable Construction SPD

The Council issued a draft version of the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for public consultation from 4th January to 15 February 2007. Officers carefully considered the comments received and these were reported to Cabinet on the 5th June 2007, along with officer responses and recommended changes to the document. The Cabinet resolved to adopt the document. However, the document was 'called in' and assessed at the Executive Scrutiny Panel on the 27th June 2007. The Panel recommended that the item be referred back to Cabinet. Cabinet reviewed the request on the 17th July 2007 and decided to confirm the adoption of the SPD. More Information

The Lower Weald, Calverton Conservation Area Review (Draft) was published for public consultation for a 6 week period from Monday 4th August 2008 to Monday 15th September 2008. The consultation period has now ended.
Read more about the document here.

The council's Statement of Community Involvement sets out guidelines for involving people in the planning system. View the council's adopted Statement of Community Involvement here.

Outline planning consent has been granted for the potential redevelopment of land on the north side of Tickford Street, currently owned by Aston Martin.

Milton Keynes Council began production of an Area Action Plan for Wolverton town centre in 2005. However, the decision has recently been taken to withdraw the document from the Local Development Scheme. Click below for more details of the reasons behind this decision.
Wolverton Area Action Plan.