The developers creating a new neighbourhood on the north side Campbell Park in Milton Keynes have unveiled revised plans for the scheme’s first phase by the side of the canal.
Urban Splash and Glenbrook had first submitted plans last year, including proposals for towers up to 18-storeys tall, however following a public consultation on the plans held by Milton Keynes City Council, the developers decided to withdraw their planning application and go back to the drawing board to revise the designs.
Nathan Cornish, director at Urban Splash, said: “The feedback on our original proposals was clear: people did not want to see such tall buildings in this location. So we’ve reduced the number of homes proposed for the site, and significantly cut the height of the buildings.
“We’re still listening, and we’re going back out to consult the public again before we submit a new planning application.”
The revised plans now feature: Five buildings with a range of heights (from 6 to 12-storeys), but all substantially lower than the towers previously proposed, a reduced number of homes – down from 450 to around 400, a new café, restaurant or bistro by the canal, a cycle link to connect the existing Redway network and biodiversity improvements to protect nature by the canal, including bat-friendly lighting, green roofs, and new wildflower meadows and wetlands areas.
Sunny Johal, Glenbrook development director, said: “This is phase one of a larger planned development across the north side of Campbell Park, so it’s really important that we get this right. That’s why we’re happy to make these changes to ensure that the homes and public spaces truly reflect the aspirations of the local community.
“The park and the canal are two of the city’s best assets, and we want to complement them by creating green landscapes, play areas, enhanced walking and cycle routes to link up the Redways, and a pub or café to let people sit out next to the canal.”
Urban Splash was appointed as the preferred developer partner on the wider Campbell Park site by the Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), committing to the creation of approximately1,500 new homes. In the summer of 2023, it announced a joint venture partnership with Glenbrook who will support the delivery of the first part of the site.
