Milton Keynes Community Foundation Vital Signs 2018
October 11, 2018
Lawrence Revill
2650 Views
“By most measures, Milton Keynes is a highly successful place: growing population, strong average earnings, high Gross Value Added, lots of new businesses, more jobs than workers, etc, etc. So it is somewhat ironic that, in the same week that Teresa May announces “The End of Austerity”, Milton Keynes Community Foundation released its annual Vital Signs Report that takes the pulse of our community (http://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/about/vital-signs-2018/).
Among many indicators, it reveals that homelessness in MK is almost double the national average, 1 in 4 children live in households below the poverty line, private rents are rising 26% faster than wages, 14% of working people earn less than the Living Wage Foundation minimum, over 65s are set to rise by 44% by 2026 with increasing pension poverty. These figures come as a shock to most of us living in prosperous parts of a seemingly prosperous new city. So much of this bad news is related to the availability and cost of housing. If disproportionate housing costs are replaced by the national average, poverty rates would improve dramatically.
MK continues to build many new homes. But demand outstrips supply, so prices remain high whether bought or rented. The only time we got the balance right was when we built a substantial number of social rented homes. If austerity really is over, perhaps investment in a new social housing programme might be the first real indicator?”
In addition to his role as Planning Partner at DLA, Lawrence Revill is also Chairman of Milton Keynes Community Foundation
RELATED NEWS
Digital Dagenham
During the global pandemic the importance of data centres has been realised, they are key pieces of national infrastructure. Keeping our laptops, zoom calls and mobile phones working during the day, before we watch streaming services in the evening.
Circle Health Rehabilitation Hospital shortlisted for 2021 RTPI Planning Award
David Lock Associates and our architect colleagues at Bryden Wood have been named as finalists in the category for Planning for Health and Wellbeing at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2021.
Logistics Permission Secured by DLA
DLA have successfully secured detailed planning permission, on behalf of our client Baytree Logistics Properties.
Promotions at David Lock Associates
David Lock Associates is delighted to announce the promotions of Victoria Owen and Matthew Hewitt to Planner positions with the compan
Doncaster Railway Station
We are delighted to see the regeneration story at Doncaster continuing at pace with the completion of the new Railway Station Gateway.
Virtual Work Experience
Friday marked the end of our second week of Virtual Work Experience at David Lock Associates. Building on the success of our previous Virtual Work Experience, we wanted to expand the number of students that could take part this time and also refined the programme to incorporate feedback from our previous attendees.
DLA Feature in RIBA’s London 21 Directory
DLA are proud to be included, with our architect colleagues at Bryden Wood, in the London 21 RIBA publication for the recent best in class delivery of the Circle Health rehabilitation hospital.
Standard method and constraints in five plans
The Planning for the Future White Paper proposes establishing housing requirements that factor in land constraints. This blog analyses how this could work and what the effect of the proposal would be on local planning authorities across England.
Recruiting Ambitious Planners
We are recruiting Associate and Senior Associate level planners to join our busy and innovative company.
DLA is recruiting experienced masterplanners
We are looking for senior masterplanners with an outstanding track record to work on some of the UK's most significant growth and regeneration challenges, for prestigious and forward-thinking clients. Find out more here.
