Milton Keynes expands planning team to meet growth demands

Milton Keynes is looking to grow its planning team to help it deal with a strong demand for minor applications from homeowners and businesses.

Development management core business unit manager Debbie Kirk told Planning: "The unit deals with 2,900 applications a year.

“These involve householders, small commercial developments and infill housing and we have to make sure we have enough people to meet demand.

"Milton Keynes is a growth area and every year there's a percentage of new houses, offices and warehouses. Some areas have constraints but we don't follow normal trends outside Milton Keynes."

Kirk said the authority was encouraging housing and employment and big-name companies based in Milton Keynes include Network Rail, VW, Mercedes and the French bakery chain Brioche.

The council is looking to recruit two planners to its core business unit that currently numbers 11 planners.

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Image: Plans for a mixed-use office scheme. Picture Milton Keynes Development Partnership