Milton Keynes, already well established as Britain's fastest growing urban area from the 1970s to 1990s and defined as part of the government’s Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area, has been given the go-ahead for urban regeneration.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has issued a consultation document proposing that planning power for the area is handed over to a committee led by regeneration agency.

Communities in and around Milton Keynes can now give their views on proposals for a new Milton Keynes Partnership Committee, when public consultation begins this week, says the ODPM.

People living and working in Milton Keynes, and the area around it, will have between now and Monday 1 March 2004 to give their views, in writing or via e-mail.

The proposal is that areas falling under the committee's remit will be formed into an urban development area.

The aim of the committee will be to ensure that major planning decisions are effectively co-ordinated by interested parties including local authorities, English Partnerships and representatives from the private sector and the Local Strategic Partnership

The partnership committee will oversee development across Milton Keynes and exercise development control powers for all major planning applications within specific areas of Milton Keynes.

The committee will be concerned with developments involving 10 or more dwellings, commercial developments totalling more than 10,750 sq ft (1,000 sq m) and any application involving a site of 2.5 acres (1 ha) or more.

Launching the consultation paper, Regeneration Minister Jeff Rooker said:

“The proposed Milton Keynes Partnership Committee consultation will make sure that local communities have their say, and I want people to tell me where they think the boundaries should be, and what powers it should have.”

"One of the aims of the Growth Area is to prevent urban sprawl through managed and considered development, and the Partnership Committee will help make that possible.”

"This is all about partnership between central government, the local authority and, most importantly, the existing community, and I'm looking forward to hearing what that community thinks."

A key focus for growth will be higher density developments in Central Milton Keynes together with expansion on the flank areas, particularly in relation to improved public transport into and within the urban area such as the proposed east-west rail link.

Over £900m is already committed on transport infrastructure in the Milton Keynes-South Midlands growth area. This includes widening of the M1 between the M25 and Milton Keynes; widening the A421 between Bedford and the M1; and a new Dunstable Northern Bypass.