MK Council
Pete Marland
Leader of Milton Keynes Council
New figures have revealed that Milton Keynes has beat the Government’s housebuilding targets for the fourth year in a row
Good news for local charities Milton Keynes is made up of many brilliant local charities, and the Council supports them wherever possible, so I am pleased that we have taken the first steps towards creating a new permanent charity hub. Last year, local charities such as MK Foodbank Xtra, Baby Basics MK and St Marks Meals were located at a temporary warehouse funded by the Council. The pandemic has caused increased demand on charities such as these, meaning a larger, more suitable space is needed. That is why the Council has allocated £1m for the relocation to a new facility in Granby, which will be transferred to us on a twenty-year lease. This decision means charities will have a spacious, secure home to continue offering their vital services – including handing out thousands of food parcels, baby packs, and meals to people in need. We will be working alongside the MK Community Foundation to bring even more charities together under one roof, so they can work together to help the people of Milton Keynes. Eco upgrades to council homes Rising energy costs are expected to have a big impact on families this year, with energy bills potentially increasing by up to 75%. The
housing estates, and will continue to help families reduce their carbon footprint and energy spending. Those who are interested in finding out more about the Council’s support for residents in need can visit www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk. Hundreds of council homes will have their external walls insulated, and windows and doors upgraded
Council is doing all that we can to support residents under financial strain, and one recent example of this is how we plan to provide over 300 Netherfield homes with some of the greenest efficiency upgrades available in the UK. The multi-million-pound project, partly funded by a Government grant, will see hundreds of council homes have their external walls insulated, windows and doors upgraded, and roofs replaced with high-performance insulation. It is part of the estate’s renewal programme, and will save families a lot of money on energy bills – all while benefiting the environment. The green project will create around 50 jobs and apprenticeships when it starts later on this year. Milton Keynes Council is also in the process of developing similar proposals on other
MK smashes housebuilding targets New figures have revealed that Milton Keynes has beat the Government’s housebuilding targets for the fourth year in a row, as nearly 6,000 homes have been built over the past three years. It is important that the Council meets housebuilding targets to ensure we maintain our planning powers, rather than losing control to the Government. This means we can continue to ensure new homes reflect the unique character of our city. Around 25% of the homes that have been built over the past few years are classed as ‘truly affordable’, meaning the house price reflects average income rather than the market value. And although this is good news, the Council wants to see even more affordable housing in MK, so we will continue to use our influence to make this happen.
CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 252442 | Email: peter.marland@milton-keynes.gov.uk | Facebook: @mklabour ADDRESS: c/o Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | March 2022
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