Milton Keynes City Council has ambitious plans for the next 25 years - and beyond. The council’s Strategy for 2050 lays out how the greater Milton Keynes area can capitalise on its unique advantages as a ‘better by design’ city, strengthening its credentials as a welcoming, inspiring and accessible place for businesses and families.
Milton Keynes was conceived as a city that would grow and expand over time. Its originators knew that its economy and population would evolve, and provided ample space for new developments and homes with a flexible framework for growth. Its grid layout and network of roads and rail connections were all put in place with this insight in mind, helping to make sure that congestion and crowding wouldn’t limit the city’s potential.
More affordable, high-quality homes in Milton Keynes
The population of Milton Keynes is growing alongside its economy, prompting the council to invest in new housing and supporting services and infrastructure. Around 29,000 new homes are planned so far on carefully chosen sites around the city, with a further 30,000-35,000 to come. That volume will support a future population of around 410,000 people, many of whom will be born in Milton Keynes or move there to grow their families, careers and businesses.
In planning for the city’s growth, the council is selectively placing new developments in areas where they will complement and integrate with the existing fabric of the city, such as brownfield sites. The new neighborhoods will include a mix of housing types, including affordable homes, social housing and rental properties.
Easy access to everyday facilities is a crucial part of this ambition - GP surgeries, local shops, schools, community centres, cafes and restaurants that are easy to reach by foot, bicycle or scooter. Active transport is baked into the culture and the infrastructure of Milton Keynes, helping to improve mental and physical health and maximising enjoyment of the city’s many green spaces. In place of long commutes and car journeys, residents can expect a lifestyle of local centres and a ‘15-minute neighbourhood’ with all the essentials in easy reach.
Future-proofing urban transport
Milton Keynes has always been easy to navigate by car. But now and in the future, there is a growing need for sustainable and carbon-neutral transport options, especially those that promote long-term health.
Walking, cycling and scooters will be the go-to solution for short journeys around the city, with investments in the Redway network of cycling and walking paths and the addition of new and more direct routes suitable for commuting. For longer trips, the new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will provide fast and affordable travel between key destinations via electric carriages. The network will open in phases, becoming fully operational by 2050. Unlike traditional trams or streetcars, it won’t require its own fixed rail infrastructure, but will run on additional lanes alongside the city’s roads - avoiding the risk of being caught up in car traffic.
Greener, cleaner city living
No 2050 strategy would be complete without plans for Net Zero and carbon neutrality, and the plan for Milton Keynes is no exception. As well as overhauling the transport system to cut vehicle emissions, the city council’s strategy outlines ways to save energy and generate power from renewable sources like solar and waste regeneration.
It will also champion the city’s ‘green and blue’ network of parkland and lakes, which provide habitats for plants and animals, safeguarding biodiversity and offering major health benefits to residents who enjoy relaxing in nature.
Building on Bletchley’s technology heritage
From its roots as the birthplace of the modern computer, the town of Bletchley maintains a vibrant tech scene and is a choice location for start-up and scale-up businesses working in AI, digital and related fields. Investments in the future will enhance Bletchley’s appeal as a destination for leisure as well as industry, with developments in store for its Brunel shopping centre and downtown areas, as well as improved public transport.
Bletchley’s outstanding transport connections are as valuable today as they were in its Codebreaker days, and are set to improve yet further. East West Rail will establish Bletchley as a key national rail hub, providing fast connectivity across the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, and to major cities via the West Coast Main Line.
Bletchley is invested in the future of technology, nurturing skills via the South Central Institute of Technology, which provides university-level education in digital specialisms, and Milton Keynes College’s Creative and Digital Arts courses, taught at its Bletchley Campus.
Ready for the future
Thinking ahead has always been the Milton Keynes way, creating a smart, sustainable city where businesses, careers and families can prosper.