100% affordable housing scheme at Employment Land 2 & 3, Newton Leys, Milton Keynes

What was proposed

The application sought to change the approved scheme into 100% affordable housing, while keeping the 113 homes, house types and layout unchanged.

“The development results in changes to the tenure mix, which continue to reflect local housing needs and demands within the City and provides an increase in affordable units within an area with an identified shortfall of affordable housing provision.”

“No other changes are sought under this application; therefore the house types and layout of the development remain unchanged from the existing permission.”

Officer report

The site

The site comprises parts of two employment parcels in northern Newton Leys, beside housing, offices, woodland, playing fields, a landfill and open space.

“The site comprises of half of an existing employment parcel known as Brickfields (‘Brickfields EP’) and an allocated employment parcel known as Newton Leys (‘Newton Leys EP’), as per the policy maps of Plan:MK, which are located within the northern portion of the wider Newton Leys development.”

“The Newton Leys EP comprises 2.78ha and is currently an arable field. To the north lies New Covert woodland, with Newton Leys Pavilion and playing fields to the east and Bletchley landfill located to the west. The active part of the landfill is some 350m from the site boundary, with filling operations moving away, north-west, in future years.”

Officer report

Planning history

Earlier permissions included the wider Newton Leys development, employment-land changes, Sark Avenue and the approved 113-home scheme.

“02/01337/OUT Proposed mixed use development (outline application), comprising housing (up to 1,650 dwellings), employment areas, shops, a combined school, community facilities, new park, playing fields, hotel or leisure facility and associated infrastructure for foul and surface water drainage and other services including access roads and parking (along with related proposals in [the former] Aylesbury Vale District) and accompanied by an Environmental Statement Approved…”

“22/03169/EIASCR Screening request under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2017 relating to the proposed substitution of approved employment development on parcels EMP 2 and EMP 3 at Newton Leys for up to 125 dwellings and a health centre Environmental Statement not required 13.01.2023”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the affordable housing increase met local needs and outweighed conflicts over shared ownership equity and wheelchair-accessible homes.

“Due to the use of Homes England grant for the delivery of the shared ownership homes within the site, the applicant requests flexibility to align the equity levels with the model of 10-75% equity share in line with the National Housing Federation. Whilst the Council do not ordinarily support deviating from the equity levels outlined within HN2 of Plan:MK, it is acknowledged that the development seeks the provision of 100% affordable homes.”

“Overall, the application is acceptable despite conflict with policy HN2 and HN4 given the significant weight afforded to the provision of affordable housing to meet the needs of the City. Amendments are required through a DoV) to the original s106 Agreement to capture the inclusion of a local lettings policy for shared ownership units alongside changes to the affordable housing mix, affordable housing tenures, shared ownership housing equity percentages, M4(3)…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Housing Strategy team raised no objection and supported the proposed mix, while the town council, ward councillors and interested parties made no comments.

“No objection. The proposed affordable housing mix is acceptable and meets known need, particularly with regards to 2 and 3 bed social rent properties that are in demand on the Council allocation waiting list. Flats proposed at the same rent level is positive.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The proposal would provide 15 social-rent, 36 shared-ownership and 62 affordable-rent homes, but seven fewer wheelchair-accessible units than the revised requirement.

“The tenure mix has been amended as a result of removing market dwellings in lieu of additional affordable units. The provision is therefore in excess of the number of units required in line with tenure mix percentages detailed in part B of policy HN2, with the scheme seeking to provide 15 social rent properties (13%), 36 shared ownership (32%) and 62 affordable rent (55%).”

“Policy HN4 of Plan:MK outlines the expected standards for the delivery of homes built to Building Regulations Part M4(2) and M4(3). The amended housing mix continues to provide 73 M4(2) units as originally captured, compliant with the policy, alongside 4 M4(3) wheelchair accessible units.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application, and the Chair asked questions about changes to the layout and number of homes.

Committee discussion

Members welcomed the increase in affordable housing and supported the recommendation for approval subject to the deed of variation and conditions.

“The Chair queried whether there were any changes to the layout or number of dwellings of the development, and was told only the compsoition of the affordable hosuing was being amended. The Chair, seconded by Councillor McLean proposed the recommendation for debate that: Subject to the completion of DoV as set out in the report, permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the main report and the amended condition 21 as set out in the Update Paper. 2.”

Minutes