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| Milton Keynes residents share mixed opinions on new estates | Milton Keynes residents share mixed opinions on new estates |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Saffron McCubbin, who works as a therapist, says the housing estate she lives on has "an isolated feel" | Saffron McCubbin, who works as a therapist, says the housing estate she lives on has "an isolated feel" |
| "It feels lonely," Saffron McCubbin says of the new build housing estate she has lived on for three years. | "It feels lonely," Saffron McCubbin says of the new build housing estate she has lived on for three years. |
| "It's kind of claustrophobic." | "It's kind of claustrophobic." |
| But a few yards down the same road in Milton Keynes, 25-year-old Charlotte Harris believes "it is a really nice estate, it's full of families". | But a few yards down the same road in Milton Keynes, 25-year-old Charlotte Harris believes "it is a really nice estate, it's full of families". |
| A report by the Open University has found people on new estates can have very different experiences of the same small area. For some the homes provide a "safe and secure" environment, but others can be left feeling isolated. | A report by the Open University has found people on new estates can have very different experiences of the same small area. For some the homes provide a "safe and secure" environment, but others can be left feeling isolated. |
| The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said its rules were clear: developments should include infrastructure. | The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said its rules were clear: developments should include infrastructure. |
| But the research says a lack of community facilities and public transport can create particular challenges for those on lower incomes, which can be "unnoticed and unseen" among the "shininess" of new homes. | But the research says a lack of community facilities and public transport can create particular challenges for those on lower incomes, which can be "unnoticed and unseen" among the "shininess" of new homes. |
| Eagle Farm South has a play area, a local school and last year a convenience store opened on the estate | Eagle Farm South has a play area, a local school and last year a convenience store opened on the estate |
| Ms McCubbin, 31, lives with her husband and three-year-old daughter in Eagle Farm South, an area on the southern edge of Milton Keynes - beyond rows of large blue distribution warehouses. | Ms McCubbin, 31, lives with her husband and three-year-old daughter in Eagle Farm South, an area on the southern edge of Milton Keynes - beyond rows of large blue distribution warehouses. |
| She grew up in the city, but most recently lived in Bristol until she moved back three years ago. | She grew up in the city, but most recently lived in Bristol until she moved back three years ago. |
| She has been searching online for a new place to live. | She has been searching online for a new place to live. |
| There are lots of children's parks but no "accessible green space" and "if you want to go anywhere, you are going in a car", she explains. | There are lots of children's parks but no "accessible green space" and "if you want to go anywhere, you are going in a car", she explains. |
| "There's not much soul or edge or community." | "There's not much soul or edge or community." |
| Milton Keynes is building houses twice as fast as the average for other areas in England, exceeding its government targets for new homes for the past seven years. | |
| Academics from the Open University, which is based in the city, worked with the charity Community Action: MK to visit three local estates. | Academics from the Open University, which is based in the city, worked with the charity Community Action: MK to visit three local estates. |
| Interviews with residents informed the report: Hidden toil behind shiny fronts. | Interviews with residents informed the report: Hidden toil behind shiny fronts. |
| Dr Keetie Roelen is a senior research fellow in poverty and social protection at the Open University | Dr Keetie Roelen is a senior research fellow in poverty and social protection at the Open University |
| Lead researcher Dr Keetie Roelen said many people "enjoy living in a new house in a place that is safe and secure" but delays to infrastructure like public transport, shops and health services create "challenges". | Lead researcher Dr Keetie Roelen said many people "enjoy living in a new house in a place that is safe and secure" but delays to infrastructure like public transport, shops and health services create "challenges". |
| For those on low incomes, particularly without a car, this could "create a lot of stress, cost a lot of time and add expense", she said. | For those on low incomes, particularly without a car, this could "create a lot of stress, cost a lot of time and add expense", she said. |
| Casey Carlisle,19, lives with his mum on the Glebe Farm estate. | Casey Carlisle,19, lives with his mum on the Glebe Farm estate. |
| He described the area as "really nice" but he does not drive and the lack of a local shop means a 20-minute walk each way. | He described the area as "really nice" but he does not drive and the lack of a local shop means a 20-minute walk each way. |
| "If you've got a lot of shopping it's a trek getting back," he said. | "If you've got a lot of shopping it's a trek getting back," he said. |
| He is looking for a job and has found it "quite tough...because you have got to think about travel". | He is looking for a job and has found it "quite tough...because you have got to think about travel". |
| Mowale Jacobs says she enjoys living on the Whitehouse estate, particularly walking in the local area | Mowale Jacobs says she enjoys living on the Whitehouse estate, particularly walking in the local area |
| Another of the estates where the research was carried out was Whitehouse, which has a health centre, schools and a community hall. | Another of the estates where the research was carried out was Whitehouse, which has a health centre, schools and a community hall. |
| Mowale Jacobs, 38, is a project manager who moved to the area a year ago with her husband and two children. | Mowale Jacobs, 38, is a project manager who moved to the area a year ago with her husband and two children. |
| They previously lived in a flat in central Milton Keynes but wanted more space. | They previously lived in a flat in central Milton Keynes but wanted more space. |
| The area is "peaceful and serene" she said, "with a nice community". | The area is "peaceful and serene" she said, "with a nice community". |
| She would like to see a bigger local shop. | She would like to see a bigger local shop. |
| The only shop on the Whitehouse estate sells groceries and convenience food | The only shop on the Whitehouse estate sells groceries and convenience food |
| Work started on Whitehouse in 2016 with the first shop opening in November 2024, but it is the size of a shipping container. | Work started on Whitehouse in 2016 with the first shop opening in November 2024, but it is the size of a shipping container. |
| Pushpinder Sedhi, who lives on the estate, is proud of his shop which he described as "cute". | Pushpinder Sedhi, who lives on the estate, is proud of his shop which he described as "cute". |
| But he is working with the local council and developers to open a bigger store. | But he is working with the local council and developers to open a bigger store. |
| The research calls on local authorities to establish services and public transport links as soon as housing is developed. | The research calls on local authorities to establish services and public transport links as soon as housing is developed. |
| Milton Keynes city councillor Shanika Mahendran says the authority has a "good working relationship" with many of the housing developers that work in the city | Milton Keynes city councillor Shanika Mahendran says the authority has a "good working relationship" with many of the housing developers that work in the city |
| Outside the health centre on the Whitehouse estate, Milton Keynes city councillor Shanika Mahendran insisted that her teams took an "infrastructure first" approach. | Outside the health centre on the Whitehouse estate, Milton Keynes city councillor Shanika Mahendran insisted that her teams took an "infrastructure first" approach. |
| "We try and push developers to get infrastructure in beforehand," said the Labour politician, who is the council's cabinet member for planning. | "We try and push developers to get infrastructure in beforehand," said the Labour politician, who is the council's cabinet member for planning. |
| She pointed to a development called MK East where a school and medical centre were built before any residents moved in. | She pointed to a development called MK East where a school and medical centre were built before any residents moved in. |
| The council has received more than £200m in developer contributions in the past seven years. | |
| "The challenges exist in all places and actually new development and new growth really has helped us tackle a lot of these challenges from the large amount of developer contributions and income we have had. | "The challenges exist in all places and actually new development and new growth really has helped us tackle a lot of these challenges from the large amount of developer contributions and income we have had. |
| "That allows us to put funding back into our infrastructure and back into services that local people really care about. | "That allows us to put funding back into our infrastructure and back into services that local people really care about. |
| "Milton Keynes would be in a much worse place now without this level of growth." | "Milton Keynes would be in a much worse place now without this level of growth." |
| Work on the Whitehouse estate began in 2016 but many more homes are still being built | Work on the Whitehouse estate began in 2016 but many more homes are still being built |
| The National Federation of Builders, an industry body, said developers often needed to sell homes before they could afford to build local facilities. | The National Federation of Builders, an industry body, said developers often needed to sell homes before they could afford to build local facilities. |
| Head of policy Rico Wojtulewicz said: "We need to not just blame the development industry, but we need to talk to local authorities [and] see if they are spending the money they have had for a decade off the developers as a contribution." | Head of policy Rico Wojtulewicz said: "We need to not just blame the development industry, but we need to talk to local authorities [and] see if they are spending the money they have had for a decade off the developers as a contribution." |
| The group says its research in 2024 found local councils in England and Wales had £8bn in unspent developer contributions. | The group says its research in 2024 found local councils in England and Wales had £8bn in unspent developer contributions. |
| "I've seen loads of companies leave the housebuilding industry at the moment, because there is just no money in it," he added. | "I've seen loads of companies leave the housebuilding industry at the moment, because there is just no money in it," he added. |
| "That is bad because it means fewer homes." | "That is bad because it means fewer homes." |
| He also believes more land needs to be allocated for employment, alongside housing, so the local services are in place. | He also believes more land needs to be allocated for employment, alongside housing, so the local services are in place. |
| "Good places need lots of land, not just houses." | "Good places need lots of land, not just houses." |
| The Whitehouse estate will see 4,330 new homes built in total | The Whitehouse estate will see 4,330 new homes built in total |
| A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We know how important it is for people to have the right services and community facilities where they live. | A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We know how important it is for people to have the right services and community facilities where they live. |
| That's why our planning rules are clear that developments should include infrastructure as we build 1.5 million homes through our Plan for Change." | That's why our planning rules are clear that developments should include infrastructure as we build 1.5 million homes through our Plan for Change." |
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