Following extensive consultation the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is setting out the blueprint for sustainable housing growth crossing three regional boundaries. The Milton Keynes South Midlands Sub-regional Strategy (SRS) is the first of its kind and covers the growth area of Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, and parts of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The strategy sets out the scale of development until 2021 – highlighting the need for planned, sustainable communities with adequate infrastructure for vital services such as transportation, health and education services.

The strategy promotes the creation of sustainable communities – well-designed places where people want to live, with jobs, facilities, services, and strong communities. A key aim is to introduce a step change in housing supply, including affordable housing, and provide strategic direction for local authorities, delivery vehicles and other organisations within the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area. Between 2005 and 2021 211,000 homes will be delivered in the sub-region.

The SRS sets out the strategic framework for the future growth of the Milton Keynes South Midlands Area. It does not allocate specific development sites. These remain to be decided at the local level during the preparation of Local Development Documents, which will give further opportunities for public involvement.

Minister for Regeneration and Regional Development, Jeff Rooker said: "Increasing the supply of homes in the Milton Keynes South Midlands area is essential to promote sustainable communities and sustainable growth."

"The Sub-regional Strategy sets out the planning framework for growth meaning that new communities must have the infrastructure they need such as schools, transport and health facilities."

The Strategy will help ensure that brownfield land is used first, improve environmental efficiency of homes, create new green spaces and living places that will stand the test of time.

The Strategy includes:

•  Concentrating additional housing growth into six growth towns avoiding wasteful suburban sprawl, tackling housing shortages, and ensuring high density building
•  Placing the bulk of development for sustainable urban extensions, mostly using land already earmarked for development purposes
•  Protecting and improving the Green Belt (19,000 hectares have been added to the green belt nationally since 1997). Any land taken out of the Green Belt will be replaced 
•  Clearly set out strategic infrastructure improvements that are needed and the current situation for each project or potential project
•  The Strategy refers to the £1.3 billion already committed to transport infrastructure in the MKSM growth area for significant transport enhancements including major improvements to the M1, key East-West roads, and West Coast Main Line