Milton Keynes City Council is proposing plans to sell land in Galley Hill in order to fund infrastructure improvements, including a new community space and play areas. The project will also create new jobs and deliver a space for two MK charities that provide essential support to local people.
The long-standing neighbourhoods of Galley Hill and Fullers Slade are next to rapidly growing new communities in the Western Expansion Area which are currently without a supermarket, including the newest, Fairfields.
The city council owns land and property where these areas meet and on 26 September is expected to make a formal decision to:
- Enable Galley Hill Local Centre (shaded orange in the image) to be used by the charities MK Food Bank, Baby Basics and others to help them concentrate on their important support for local people instead of worrying how to fund accommodation.
The charities serve the immediate communities in Galley Hill and Fullers Slade as well as residents across the city. MK Food Bank has provided more than 27,000food parcels to residents over the last 12 months, and Baby Basics provides essentials such as nappies and prams. Both charities have experienced a massive rise in demand during the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
- Remove a disused and dilapidated swimming pool from the Watling Way Centre (blue) which is attracting anti-social behaviour, and create dedicated parking for Walnuts Care, a day centre and support service for young adults with Autism already based there. The city council will explore options to deliver community space at the Centre, or in combination with the Charities Hub.
- Sell an empty car park (yellow) to a low-cost quality supermarket operator which, subject to planning permission, would create around 50 jobs within walking distance of Fullers Slade, a priority area for regeneration. This, and the wider site, would be served by a dedicated entrance from the H1 Ridgeway which would also reduce traffic on smaller estate roads.
- The proposals also note that a decision was made in March to turn a former city council building (shaded red) into a special educational needs school for up to 24 pupils.
The green shaded area indicates playing fields for another school already on the site, which is out of scope of the plans.
“These proposals are about creating new facilities and opportunities that serve local people, such as new jobs and easier to access low-cost food. We also know there’s residents in Fullers Slade and Galley Hill who rely on the Food Bank MK so again it’s making that access more convenient.
“Ahead of any community investment, we would set up working group for local councillors, representatives from the Galley Hill Residents Association, and others who represent their community to help us plan the work in greater detail. We want to get the balance of the plans right for as many people as possible.”