Milton Keynes Council Planning Service Annual Monitoring Report 2019 -2020 July 2020 1 Contents Page 1. Introduction Page 3 2. Local Planning Authority Performance Page 5 3. Social Page 19 4. Housing Page 32 5. Regeneration and Council House Building Page 55 6. Economy Page 60 7. Education Page 69 8. Transport Page 74 9. Historic Environment and Heritage Page 85 10. Energy and Climate Page 95 11. Natural Environment and Biodiversity Page 109 12. Minerals Page 117 13. Waste Page 124 Appendix A Page 129 Front Cover Image: Campbell Park (Credit: Simon Peart, MKC Conservation & Archaeology Team) 2 Introduction The Annual Monitoring Report 1.1 Local authorities are required to produce and publish monitoring reports by the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011). On 30 March 2011, the parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Bob Neill MP, wrote to authorities announcing the withdrawal of Annual Monitoring Report Guidance, meaning authorities are now free to choose which targets and indicators to include in their reports (providing they are in line with relevant UK and EU legislation). As a result of the changes to monitoring requirements brought about by the Localism Act, a copy of the monitoring report is no longer sent to the Secretary of State. 1.2 This monitoring report covers the period January 2019 to March 2020 and is the first to be prepared since the adoption of Milton Keynes Council’s (MKC) new Local Plan; Plan:MK, which was adopted on 20 March 2019. As such, this report monitors progress towards achieving the strategic objectives set out in Plan:MK and analyses the implementation and performance of Plan:MK’s policies in enabling delivery of these objectives, with reference to the targets and indicators outlined in the Plan:MK monitoring framework (contained in Appendix F of Plan:MK). Milton Keynes Background Information 1.3 Milton Keynes Borough covers the 'new city' of Milton Keynes as well as its large rural hinterland which includes many villages and the towns of Newport Pagnell, Woburn Sands and Olney (see Figure 1.1). The Borough is located in the centre of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) which brings together businesses, universities and colleges, community groups, social enterprises and local government in 8 local authority areas which include Buckinghamshire (Unitary Authority Area), Central Bedfordshire, Bedford and South Northamptonshire. The aim of SEMLEP is to promote the South East Midlands as a prime growth location for business, investors and visitors. It is one of 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in England established by the Coalition Government to play a central role in determining local economic priorities and to undertake activities that drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs. 1.4 Milton Keynes was designated as a New Town in 1967. The development of the city was subject to the 1970 Master Plan, implemented by the Milton Keynes Corporation until 1992. Milton Keynes has been, and continues to be, one of the fastest growing areas in the UK. A lack of reliable population data means the current population number is uncertain; 2011 Census data remains the only reliable source. Between Milton Keynes’ designation, the Borough's population grew from 60,000 to 248,800 at the time of the 2011 Census. The 3 current development plan for the Borough, Plan:MK sets an objectively assessed housing need for 26,500 new dwellings over the 2016-2031 period. As forecast in the MK 2050 Strategy, growth is expected to lead to an increase in population to almost 400,000 in the wider Milton Keynes area by 2040. Most of the land to accommodate this growth was allocated in Plan:MK; further sites will be allocated through the scheduled Local Plan Review. 1.5 The growth of Milton Keynes can be attributed to its advantageous location midway between London and Birmingham, as well as its connections to the M1 motorway and the West Coast Mainline train service. Also, Milton Keynes' position at the centre of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc offers good opportunities for economic growth. There are currently around 160,000 jobs in the Borough . 1.6 Milton Keynes is a major shopping and leisure destination. Popular destinations include the shopping centre, the Milton Keynes Theatre and Art Gallery, Xscape and Stadium MK. Figure 1.1: Map of MKC Local Authority Area. 4 Local Planning Authority Performance Progress on Planning Policy and LDS Implementation 2.1 The Local Development Scheme (LDS) 1 sets out the planning policy documents that MKC intends to produce over a three-year period and the timetable for producing them. It is essentially a summary of the more detailed project management behind each document. 2.2 Following the adoption of Plan:MK in March 2019, MKC prepared a new LDS which was agreed by Delegated Decision on 17 September 2019. The LDS covers the period 2019 to 2022 and sets out the timescales for the review of Plan:MK. This is reflected in Plan:MK Policy DS0 which mentions that the next plan is to be submitted for examination before December 2022. The LDS also sets out the timescales for preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) and outlines a risk assessment covering the risks that could impact upon the delivery of the work programme. Progress on the Review of Plan:MK 2.3 As outlined in Section 6 of MKC’s current LDS, a number of key milestones for the initial stages of the preparation of the review of Plan:MK were set to be carried out in 2019/20 and early 2020/21. These milestones were all related to the pre-production stage of the review and are outlined in Table 2.1, with progress against them reported below. Table 2.1: 2019/20 LDS milestones for Plan:MK Review Task Timescale Agreement of new LDS by Cabinet September 2019 Public consultation on the draft Strategy for November 2019 – February 2020 2050 Commissioning and preparation of evidence Start April 2020 base studies Adoption of the Milton Keynes Growth Strategy June 2020 Agreement of new LDS by Cabinet 2.4 As outlined above the updated LDS was agreed in September 2019 in line with the LDS timetable. 1 https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/local-development-scheme-lds 5 Public consultation on the draft Strategy for 2050 & Adoption of the Milton Keynes Growth Strategy 2.5 In January 2020 MKC published the Draft Strategy for 2050 for public engagement. The Strategy seeks to progress the recommendations and aspirations of the MK Futures 2050 report, the Council Plan 2016-2020 and the National Infrastructure Commission report 2017, which outlined ambitions to expand the city and its wider area to a population of approximately 500,000 people by 2050. 2.6 The Strategy which seeks to outline a framework for how this additional growth could be delivered in a manner which delivers on a number of key objectives based around inclusive growth principles, is supported by a large evidence base which has been prepared specifically for the Strategy and MK Futures work. This includes, amongst other studies: a. Milton Keynes Strategic Growth Study, prepared by David Lock Associates; b. An economic growth study, prepared by Ortus Economics; c. A Mobility and Mass Rapid Transit System study, prepared by Integrated Transport Planning; d. A Growth Options Assessment document; e. Demographic modelling prepared by Opinion Research Services. 2.7 The Strategy for 2050 whilst not a statutory planning document, once it is adopted by MKC will be a key consideration in preparing the review of Plan:MK. Furthermore, the evidence base that informs it, and the feedback gained during the consultation period will provide useful information and data to assist the preparation of the new plan. 2.8 The LDS had outlined that consultation on the draft Strategy would be undertaken between November 2019 and January 2020. This consultation period was however delayed due to the general election that was announced and held in late 2019. The Strategy was instead published in January 2020 for an intended period of 3 months. During February and March, MKC hosted many public meetings across the Borough and within parishes of neighbouring authorities that border Milton Keynes. Due to the onset of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown, the remainder of the programmed engagement events scheduled for the end of March and April 2020 had to be cancelled. Due to this, MKC decided to extend the consultation period until 22 May 2020 to enable people further time to review the Strategy and associated documents and provide comment. 2.9 Whilst the delays associated with Covid-19 will in themselves have an impact on the initial programme for finalising and adopting the Strategy for 2050, MKC also want to give some thought to the possible impacts of the current Covid-19 situation and how the Strategy for 2050 will respond. 6 2.10 During June and July 2020, MKC published some thoughts and questions to be considered in relation to Covid-19, and to provide an opportunity for people to respond to these issues, and what adaptations may be appropriate to include in the Strategy. All the feedback received to date, as well as from the Covid-19 discussions, will then be considered and assist in improving and refining the Strategy for 2050. It is then intended to publish a revised Strategy for 2050 in Autumn 2020 as an opportunity for further feedback on the changes that have been made, before taking the final Strategy through Cabinet and Council processes for adoption early in 2021.