Local sites important to residents are set to be officially recognised as Milton Keynes City Council prepares to approve a New Town Heritage Register.
A list of just over 150 places have been identified across Milton Keynes, including the Peace Pagoda at Willen Lake, Homeworld 81 exhibition site at Bradwell Common and the Bicycle Wall mural at Stantonbury. Together, the places on the Register tell the city’s story due to their historical, architectural and cultural importance which will be considered as part of any future planning applications in and around the sites.
In 2021, the city council received government funding to develop a National Town Heritage Register as part of a national campaign to increase the number of local lists and highlight the importance of local identity.
A decision to approve the new list is set for next week. This follows a previous consultation in which local residents nominated sites. Since then, a selection panel made up of local and national experts have prepared a final list for the city council to consider.
Milton Keynes is known for its modern and distinctive architecture, generous green open spaces and seamless infrastructure, which all contribute to its unique heritage significance. The draft MK City Plan which will guide future development across the city acknowledges the contribution that new town heritage makes in encouraging high quality new developments.
“The Heritage Register is a vital tool and helps us value these important sites. Despite us being a new city, we’re proud of our unique heritage which is admired by our residents and visitors. My thanks go out to the people who nominated the sites and the panel of volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort to ensure these assets are known, celebrated and enjoyed in the future.”