Councillors spoke of their misgivings as they approved plans for 285 BTR homes in Milton Keynes.
The high-rise scheme, put forward by Milton Keynes I (Packaged Living and Affinius Capital) involves demolition of the five/six storey split level car park at Milton Keynes Theatre in Marlborough Gate and its replacement with towers of 28 and 18 storeys, linked by another of 16. The application includes some Class E retail on the ground floor.
But among a number of doubts expressed over the scheme at the August 15 meeting of the planning committee, including some related to a lack of affordable housing, Cllr Martin Petchey asked officers to make sure the s106 agreement included reference to health provision
Referring to the officer’s report, he went on: “I’ve never seen a report that has so many phrases like ‘less than desirable’ or ‘shortcomings of the design’.
“It’s not something I would have built if I had £100m to spend but I don’t. It’s their money. They have done enough to fit in with our plans so reluctantly I have to vote for it.”
The team on the project includes Assael on architecture, Rapleys on planning and Fellows as cost consultant.
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