Press Release

Milton Keynes to pioneer use of ‘super-flexible’ homes

25 January 2006

Later this week, Milton Keynes Partnership will publish a discussion paper on the use of ‘super flexible’ homes. The paper will be published to coincide with the start of a local consultation on the draft master plan for Tattenhoe Park, the last grid square to be developed on the west of Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes Partnership sees the growth of Milton Keynes as an opportunity to meet the changing needs of people and families over time. The draft plan recommends that the building of ‘super-flexible homes’ is pioneered at Tattenhoe Park. This means that a proportion of the houses will be built with future extension or adaptation in mind. It will allow people and families to easily adapt their homes to meet their changing needs over time.

These homes would sit alongside other ‘standard’ housing types and be spread across the 140 acre (57ha) site. They would account for approximately 30 per-cent of the total number of homes.

Jane Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer of Milton Keynes Partnership said; “In a house designed on super-flexible principles, space can be arranged then potentially re-arranged to meet future needs. This would allow homeowners to adapt their homes, instead of moving, as their circumstances change.

“Design flexibility could include open plan layouts or rooms with partition walls that can be easily removed or re-positioned. Another option would be the use of open truss roofs designed to ease future dormer conversion or upwards extension.”

Tattenhoe Park will provide over 1200 new homes, 30 per-cent of these will be affordable. Other amenities will include a new primary school, community facilities, open space, allotment gardens, a small hotel, shops and business space.

The masterplan aims to provide a high quality townscape with a variety of spaces and neighbourhoods that are all well connected and easy to navigate. A variety of designs will help to make Tattenhoe Park a place in its own right.

Comprehensive masterplanning of grid squares in advance of outline planning applications and sale to developers is an established procedure in Milton Keynes. This approach ensures a well-planned, high quality, sustainable development. It is intended that an outline planning application be submitted later in 2006, when there will be further opportunity for consultation on the proposed plans.

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