The development includes up to 350 dwellings, 35% of which will be available for affordable housing; a dentist surgery; playing fields; allotments; associated landscaping; access, and infrastructure at land south of Newton Leys outside Milton Keynes.
The decision to grant planning permission follows a public inquiry held in September 2011. Pickles said that the site is subject to considerable urban influences and has very little scenic value or visual relationship to the wider countryside. Whilst the scheme conflicts with the region's spatial vision (the South East Plan), there is less than a five year housing land supply in the district. Overall, it was held that there would be significant benefits in providing up to 350 dwellings where there is a substantial and identified need and this outweighs any policy conflict.
The Council withdrew its key core strategy housing document, which contained housing targets for the district in line with the South East Plan regional strategy, following the government's announcement that it would revoke Regional Spatial Strategies.
Under the South East Plan the Council would have been required to find space for 26,890 homes by 2026. Pickles agreed with the Inspector that the South East Plan was the only basis for deciding housing targets and this included the strategic allocation for Milton Keynes expansion.
Reserved matters applications for landscape, layout, appearance and scale will be submitted at a later date.
