In July 2008, the Government published its proposed changes to the draft SE Plan for consultation, following the publication of the Panel Report of the Examination in Public of the Draft SE Plan. This document can be found at http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/seplan.html Milton Keynes Partnership had proposed that the South Eastern urban extension of Milton Keynes should extend over the Mid Bedfordshire boundary into what is called the Aspley Guise Triangle.
Following the examination in public, the Panel accepted the view of the developers, Savilles, that 5,600 dwellings could be squeezed into the Aspley Guise Triangle.
However, Mid Bedfordshire, does not fall within the area of the South East Plan, it lies within the area of the East of England Plan, published in May 2008. This was made clear in the representations made by Aspley Guise Parish Council and other organisations. The Government in its published proposed changes recognised this fact and stated its view that the 5,600 dwellings allocated by the Panel to the Aspley Guise triangle, should instead be located within the MK unitary authority area, east of the M1. Expansion of Milton Keynes into Mid Bedfordshire, should be considered by the East of England Regional Assembly as part of its current review of the East of England Plan
Consultation on the Governments proposed changes finished in October 2008 and the final South East plan was published in May 2009. Following pressure from MK Council and MK Partnerships the Secretary of State has removed the suggestion that 5,600 dwellings be located east of the M1, although noting that development east of M1 will be a requirement in the long term. However it has reduced its total of housing for Milton Keynes to reflect the fact that no houses can be allocated in Central Bedfordshire until and unless accepted as part of the East of England Plan Review.
Mid Bedfordshire's (now Central Bedfordshire) draft Core Strategy was examined by a planning Inspector in June 2009. This proposes an extension of the green belt north of the Bedford Bletchley Railway line to protect Aspley Guise against coalescence with Milton Keynes, and subject to the East of England Review up to 2,000 dwellings to be in the Aspley Guise Triangle,as part of the Milton Keynes SE development area. The parish council broadly supported this in their initial representation on the draft Core Strategy submitted for examination, but with some serious concerns. These concerns have been detailed to the planning inspector in the Parish Council written statement which may be found here .
Unfortunately the Planning Inspector's view was that there that the number of dwellings to be located in Aspley Guise as part of an MK expansion into Central Bedfordshire, should not be part of the Mid Beds Core Strategy, but should be left to be decided by the East of England Review. Additionally he did not support the Core Strategy containing a proposal to extend the green belt to prevent coalescence between Aspley Guise and Milton Keynes. However he was of the view that any green infrastructure separation was likely to cover roughly the same area.
There is a Memorandum of Understanding between Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes for 2,000 dwellings, subject to the East of England Review to be located in the Aspley Guise Triangle as part of the SE extension of MK. However Central Bedfordshire is looking to the East of England Regional Assembly to support an extension of the green belt to protect Aspley Guise from coalescence with Milton Keynes.
The East of England Regional Assembly consulted throughout the East of England Region on 4 options being considered as part of their review. The first draft of the review is currently being agreed by the Assembly and a submission version will be published in March for consultation. A link will be provided when published.
February 2010, Milton Keynes Council published their Submission Core Strategy for consultation. The consultation deadline is 31st March 2010. The document can be found here http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=69029. There is reference to the proposed extension of Milton Keynes into Aspley Guise but until the East of England Review is complete, then this is premature.
