Brief History Of Milton Keynes.
The proposed new city of Milton Keynes was designated on 23rd January 1967 with an area of 34 square miles and a target population of up to 250,000.
The Milton Keynes Development Corporation was formed on sty April 1967 with Lord Campbell of Eskan as the Chairman......hence Campbell Park.
The design team was headed, initially, by Derek Walker. In 1992 the Development Corporation was wound up and its remaining assets were taken over by the Commission for New Towns which was absorbed by English Partnerships in 1999.
THE MASTER PLAN
In 1962 a plan was made by Fred Pooley of Bucks. County Council to build a city of neighbourhoods linked by a monorail. This plan was considered by the consultants appointed to produce a master plan. They liked the idea of the neighbourhoods but instead of a monorail they recommended a series of grid roads at 1km intervals with jobs and houses spread along the roads served by minibuses. This plan was approved in May 1971.
DEVELOPMENT
The first houses were constructed in 1971 with a project consisting of 453 houses. By 1991 this number had increased to 3,000 a year and this was the fastest rate of growth in the country.
The original aim was for 50% private housing but by 1985 eight out of ten houses were for sale.
The Civic Offices and the Shopping Centre opened in 1979
The new railway station opened in 1982
The Church of Christ the Cornerstone opened in 1990
The theatre and gallery opened in 1999
The population in 1967 was 40,000
The population in 1999 was 200,000
MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL
Milton Keynes Borough Council was formed in 1974. It covered the new city area and the local rural areas.
It took in Newport Pagnell Urban District
Newport Pagnell Rural District
Wolverton Urban District
Bletchley Urban District
and part of Winslow Rural District
