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Council estate residents vote for regeneration in ‘no demolition’ ballot
Residents of a council estate in Milton Keynes, which was one of five to be saved from demolition this summer, have voted in favour of the local authority’s regeneration plans.
Just over half (55%) of residents who took part in the late November ballot voted in favour of the plans. The ballot had a turnout of 65%.
The proposals will see 369 new homes built on the estate, a fifth of which will be affordable, as well as full refurbishment of all existing council homes.
Full demolition was not included as an option on the ballot paper.
Other improvements include enhancements to the local park, a community hub with shops and local facilities, additional green areas, parking, and cycling routes. A planning application is expected to be submitted next year.
Milton Keynes Council announced in July that it would “move away from regeneration that could involve wholesale demolition”.
In 2017, it had unveiled an intention to demolish seven of its ageing estates: Fullers Slade, Netherfield, Coffee Hall, Tinkers Bridge, North Bradville, Beanhill, and the Lakes.
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The £1bn project was expected to take more than 15 years and involve razing 8,500 homes.
As part of the announcement in July, the council said demolition would still progress at Fullers Slade and the Lakes, as these projects had progressed further.
But the authority said that following engagement with residents, it decided to offer three options on the ballot: no redevelopment, new homes and refurbishment, or new homes, refurbishment and estate-wide improvements. Option three received the most votes.
A planning application for the Lakes will be submitted in early 2020.
Last year, the council opted to strip regeneration vehicle Your MK of various powers as a result of concerns about rifts with residents.
Your MK is a 50-50 partnership between the local authority and Mears Group which was set up in 2015 to redevelop the estates.
Milton Keynes Council said it worked with the residents’ steering group for Fullers Slade Estate to organise 22 consultation events, which were attended by 700 residents.
Michael Kelleher, director of housing and regeneration at Milton Keynes Council, said: “Thank you to everyone who turned out to vote.
“We have made it clear from the outset that it’s local people who will decide on the future of their estate. We will continue talking with local people as we prepare to submit a planning application.
“I’d also like to thank the residents’ steering group and council colleagues for their work over the past two years and look forward to continuing to work with the community throughout the process.”
Sylvia Airs, chair of the Fullers Slade steering group, said: “The [group] accepts the decision made today by residents however, as always, we remain mindful of those for whom this may be disappointing news.
“This is not the end of the regeneration process but simply the end of the first stage.
“We will now continue to work with all residents through the detailed planning and design stage to help develop a plan that will ensure Fullers Slade homes, estate and the community becomes the very best it can be and a place we are proud to call home, a place where others will want to come and visit.”
This is Milton Keynes Council’s second regeneration ballot following a vote that took place in Serpentine Court on the Lakes Estate last year.
The other options available in the Fullers Slade vote were for no redevelopment or refurbishment and new homes.
