Milton Keynes’ Growth Trajectory 50 Years on

Last month a significant moment for UK planning passed almost unnoticed, when the new King visited the UK’s first New City. Milton Keynes, one of several New Towns created in the 1970s had achieved city status as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours.

This accolade is likely to further fuel the considerable zeal for development which has been unremitting for Milton Keynes’ 50 year history, as Jeremy Pyatt explains. 

Jeremy has witnessed Milton Keynes’ expansion for many years, having run the Milton Keynes Savills office from 2006 to 2012 and WYG’s Milton Keynes office from 2013 to 2017. Jeremy then worked for JB Planning which was acquired by Carter Jonas in 2021, making Jeremy a Planning Partner in the Eastern region. More recently Toby Lambert was appointed as Head of Residential Development (East), also covering the Milton Keynes area. With Jeremy and Toby concentrating on this location, Carter Jonas is well positioned to capitalise on the significant potential that Milton Keynes offers.

Milton Keynes geography

Jeremy explains, “Milton Keynes’ geography is key to its appeal. It’s close enough to London, has space for development and benefits from relatively inexpensive land values. It’s also got excellent transport connectivity with the M1 and the A421, along with the London Euston to Birmingham train line.

“Milton Keynes also benefits from its proximity to both Oxford and Cambridge. In character, it is diametrically opposed to the two historic university cities; but it offers what Oxbridge doesn’t – it’s growth has been planned, rather than having evolved, based on the ultimately sustainable garden city principles. The City  is easy  to navigate by car  and has excellent public transport and opportunities for walking and cycling. It’s rare to be able to make this claim, but you rarely experience bad traffic jams in Milton Keynes.”

While cities such as Oxford and Cambridge are limited by the Green Belt, resulting in housing costs which are inaccessible for so many (most notably key workers), Milton Keynes has continued to expand with relative ease, retaining the potential for development that first defined it. 
“The Garden City principles, which inspired the New Towns Movement, have really stood the test of time and remain as relevant today as they were a century ago. The Milton Keynes lifestyle promotes wellbeing and offers a wide range of employment opportunities and cultural services, an appropriate mix of house types and tenures and 200 miles of treelined ‘redways’ exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. It has created a high quality built environment, while also promoting access to nature and opportunities for biodiversity.”

Perhaps one of the greatest design features of Milton Keynes – and one which is, again, in stark contrast to Oxford and Cambridge, is the capacity of its city centre to accommodate easy access to high quality shopping and recreational facilities. 

“As well as easily accessible shopping facilities, the opportunities for recreation are considerable, including water skiing and indoor skiing.  This and the emphasis on sports - Milton Keynes hosted three matches at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 – making  Milton Keynes popular with young people.”

Milton Keynes demographic

Half of the City’s population is under 35, with 30-39 year-olds forming the largest 10-year age group. Unemployment levels are considerably below average, with 83.4% being economically active compared to a UK average of 78.4%. 

It is unsurprising, therefore that the city continues to innovate. “Milton Keynes has always been cutting edge,” says Jeremy, “and is of global importance for business innovation and activity; the city’s growth being characterised by high productivity levels and a prevalence of business start-ups”.

Will the new city remain forever young, continuing to celebrate innovation and change? Or will the unique nature of its development become an important part of planning heritage? It would seem the latter is already materialising: of the approximately 10,000 conservation areas located in the UK, no fewer than 27 are in Milton Keynes, and there are already 18 Grade 2 listed buildings. 

Milton Keynes lies top and centre of the Oxford Cambridge Arc. But does the Arc mean anything in development terms anymore - or has it been levelled, under more recent levelling up? “The Arc is a concept,” says Jeremy. “But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t attract development.

Local Plans have been accelerated as a result, and although the Expressway has been abandoned, the East West Rail Link is underway.  Increased connectivity with Oxford and Cambridge will be the main driver for the next stage in Milton Keynes’ growth.”

Milton Keynes, the ultimate planning case study, will continue to prosper thanks to a planning concept which never really came into being. After 50 years of steady growth, it is yet to reach saturation point. It’s got everything going for it and very little against. Too many roundabouts tends to be the extent of the criticism – and what’s there to criticise in a road network which ensures against traffic jams?