Eastern expansion houses get go ahead

THE first plans for a new community of 2,500 new houses have been approved.

An application for 214 homes in Brooklands, part of the eastern expansion area (EEA), was given the go ahead last week by the Milton Keynes Partnership Committee.

Developer Places for People will start the work between the A5130 Newport Road and Brooklands Meadows, which will include 65 affordable homes.

Lindsey Richards, development control manager for Milton Keynes Partnership, said: “This is a very important application as it will set the tone and style for residential development at Brooklands.

It is encouraging to see such good progress being made in the EEA with essential infrastructure well under way, including work on the first section of Brooklands Ridge, and a resolution to grant planning permission now for the first housing.”

However, campaigners and councillors have expressed concern about the design of the estate, which includes the controversial 'city streets' layout.

Theo Chalmers, chair of pressure group Urban Eden, said: "Sadly this is a perfect example of the triumph of mediocrity over sense. Milton Keynes Partnership knows full well that ‘city streets’ are a busted flush with no support in any quarter but despite this and instead of grasping the nettle and re-instating a grid road, they continue to press forward with developments which will further establish them as immovable monuments to their own incompetence.”

Ward councillor John Bint said: "Sometimes it feels like someone's out to normalise Milton Keynes - to take away what is special, valuable and very different about it and make it more like other, lesser, places.

"It's going to be interesting to see whether the great things claimed for Brooklands will happen or whether it will be another one of those white elephants."

Work is expected to start on site by the end of the year and it is anticipated that the first homes will be ready for occupation by summer 2010.