Linford Lakes, Wolverton Road, Milton Keynes, MK14 6GH

(1) Full application for the change of use of 68.65ha of agricultural land to a linear park and a new access road to the Linford Lakes Study Centre with associated works including the stopping up of the public road in Stanton Low and demolition of the Marle Inn; and (2) Outline application (matter of access to be considered, with matters of layout, scale, appearance and landscaping reserved) for up to 277 extra care apartments (Use Class C2); a care home providing up to 70 bedrooms (Use Class C2); up to 41 retirement bungalows (Use Class C3) and up to 196 homes (Use Class C3) with communal amenity space and other associated works

Authority: Milton Keynes Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: residential · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Davies G

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the spatial strategy for new development
the effect on the character and appearance of the landscape
the effect on ecology and biodiversity of the site and adjoining land
the mix and need for housing, in particular residential institutional accommodation
accessibility to services and facilities
the need for visitor parking
whether self-build housing should be provided

What decided it

the substantial conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy combined with major landscape and ecological harm decisively outweighed the scheme's benefits

the substantial conflict with the development plan as a whole and significant harm to landscape, ecology and self-build provision decisively outweighed the moderate benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing, economic activity and linear park access improvements

Framework references: 11, 14, 55, 82-84, 180

Plan policies cited: Policy D1, Policy D2, Policy D5, Policy HLL1, Policy DS0, Policy DS1, Policy DS2, Policy DS5, Policy NE5, Policy HLL10, Policy NE1, Policy NE2, Policy NE3, Policy NE4, Policy NE6, Policy HLL9, Policy HN1, Policy HN3, Policy HN2, Policy ER14, Policy CT10, Policy SD1, Policy L1, Policy NH5, Policy DS6

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.