Future Growth – Faith Requirements

At their January 2019 meeting the Council of Faith considered the faith requirements of future growth of Milton Keynes.

Michael Moore explained that Town Planning was the development and use of land.

Policy documents are produced. It is not just about housing, but also about community buildings, employment, play areas, etc.

The latest strategic planning document is known as ‘Plan:MK’. MK Council hopes to adopt the plan in March 2019, on receipt of the inspectors report.

The plan period covers from 2016 – 2031 and plans 31,000 new dwellings in MK. This includes 3,000-5,000 in MK East (land between Newport Pagnell and the M1) and 3,000 in MK South East.

Places of Worship

The original MKDC sites are now too small and too expensive.

There is a new policy around the conversion of existing employment sites into places of worship.

There is also an excess of shop floor space due to the rise of on line shopping. This is mitigated in MK with the rise in population.

Various Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) are produced, eg for master plans.

MK South East is going to public consultation in March/April of this year.

There is the potential for places of worship to be in new areas.

Cemeteries

Angela explained that existing cemeteries are getting full – Newport Pagnell, New Bradwell and Stony Startford.

An extension to Wolverton will include a Muslim area and a green burial site. The privately owned Olney site is full.

The Western Expansion Area cemetery will come on stream once the roads to access it are in place.

The Bletchley cemetery is full, while the Walley Drive site still has spaces in the Jewish section.

The Selbourne Ave site is a large site, but has drainage issues.

Questions/Comments

Douglas – I created 2,400 extra burial spaces while Cabinet member, including 600 at Newport Pagnell, so surprised to hear that is getting full already. There was talk of the old caravan park being an extension to the Newport Pagnell cemetery – is that going ahead?

No, the Environment Agency was opposed due to flood risk.

Richard – Pleased with new policy use of industrial buildings.

Michael confirmed that there was no change to policy re shops – yet. The Council can give planning permission as an exception to policy, eg for long term empty building.

John – Will there be reserve sites in new areas?

Michael – Unlikely.

Zvi – Jewish cemetery not being fully used as some Jews have links to London Synagogues and have arrangements to be buried there. 

Latifeh – Where is the Western Expansion Area – it is west of the V4.

Douglas – How are the Top Down and Bottom Up processes reconciled? I attend the stakeholder meetings for MK East and there is no mention of places or worship or cemeteries.

Richard – Supports NOT having Reserve Sites. There are about 30 sites left after 25 years.

Not advantageous to local charity groups.

How do you decide which group gets the site?

Sam – What is available and how best to answer this question?

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