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Milton Keynes South Midland (MKSM) Growth Area

Through the Governments Sustainable Communities plan high levels of growth are planned for the MKSM sub region and the population is expected to grow by 750,000 people. In the East Midlands this affects Northamptonshire and the towns of Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough, Daventry, Towcester, Kettering and others.

Regionally we are working closely with Northamptonshire County Council in particular with the work to create the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP). This is recognised as a flagship environmental project that will deliver green infrastructure in the area. LDA design have been employed by the County Council to identify a strategic framework for the North Northants area that will provide baseline information on environmental, social and economic factors to assist with future planning.  

Natural England intends that by influencing activity in the Growth Area we can help to ensure that development will be exemplary and will demonstrate the way forward in other areas of England. 

Because of the high levels of growth that are projected for the Milton Keynes and South Midlands (MKSM) Sub Region, increasing pressure will be put on existing green infrastructure assets and new assets will need to be provided for both the existing and new communities. The MKSM Environment and Quality of Life (EQOL) Sub-Group led by the newly created Sustainable Development Delivery team have produced ‘Planning Sustainable Communities: A Green Infrastructure Guide for Milton Keynes and the South Midlands.’ It is intended that officers from local delivery vehicles (LDV’s), planning authorities and developers will use the guide. Another document in leaflet form ‘Green Infrastructure: Sustainable Communities in Milton Keynes and the South Midlands’ is also available for the general public and board/member level representatives. Although the guide is aimed at users within the MKSM growth area, the key principles are generic and can therefore be used to influence the development planning process more widely. 

This guide is available to download by clicking on the right hand link.