MK City Council announce independent design panel to help plan future growth of city

Milton Keynes City Council has appointed an independent group to provide design reviews for plans to grow the city.

Design South East have been appointed by the City Council to provide independent design reviews for major development proposals, helping ensure new schemes are well-designed, sustainable and fit for the future as Milton Keynes continues to grow.

With thousands of new homes, employment spaces and infrastructure projects being delivered across MK, the City Council said that they are aiming to strengthen the way they work with developers to raise design standards and create places that people will be proud to live, work and spend time in for generations to come.

Major development proposals will be reviewed by an independent panel before formal planning applications are submitted, giving developers access to expert advice at an early stage. This will help identify opportunities to strengthen designs and improve schemes before they come forward, ensuring they better align with the council’s planning priorities and the city’s long-term growth ambitions. The panel’s advice will be funded through developers’ pre-application fees, at no additional cost to the council.

The panel, which was formally inducted earlier this summer, brings together specialists in architecture, urban design, landscape, sustainability, heritage, transport, regeneration, public health, community engagement, planning and inclusive design. The members have extensive experience of Milton Keynes and an understanding of the qualities that make the city unique.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, maintaining high standards of design is increasingly important. The panel will help ensure new development complements Milton Keynes’ distinctive character while supporting greener neighbourhoods, enhancing biodiversity, encouraging sustainable travel and creating attractive, healthy places for communities. It will also help ensure that new developments are designed around the needs of the people who live there, creating neighbourhoods that are easy to get around, well connected to services and support a high quality of life.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking, Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, said, “Milton Keynes continues to grow at a remarkable pace, with new homes, businesses and infrastructure helping to support our thriving city. As that growth continues, it’s important that developments are designed to a high standard and contribute positively to the environment and local communities.

“This independent panel will provide valuable expertise at an early stage, helping developers create better proposals that are sustainable, well-connected and fit for the future. Good design is about much more than how a place looks. It’s about creating neighbourhoods where people can live well, with access to green spaces, services and amenities, and where communities can thrive. It is another way we are supporting growth while protecting the qualities that make Milton Keynes special.”