New LDO is set to boost expansion of Oxfordshire’s Milton Park

A new local development order for MEPC’s Milton Park in Oxfordshire is set to speed up the expansion of the 3m sq ft science, technology and business community. Vale of White Horse District Council has voted to adopt an updated local development order for Milton Park, subject to a legal agreement being finalised. Once adopted, the updated order will help to fast-track planning approvals. It could pave the way for up to 4.2m sq ft of development at the 214-acre site, which is currently home to more than 250 companies. LDOs are used to provide permitted development rights. The district council, as the local planning authority, can used LDOs to set the overall design of a site and speed up the planning process for preferred types of development. They also set conditions for development, including building size and design, and associated facilities such as roads and landscaping. Following consultation, the updated Milton Park LDO includes plans for business and employment opportunities, such as laboratories, offices, shops, cafés and a nursery. It would also increase floorspace for businesses and allow increased building heights in certain parts of Milton Park. The new LDO would also expect new developments to be designed in a way that reduces their carbon footprint and incorporates low- or zero-carbon energy technology where possible. Before the updated LDO is formally adopted, MEPC will need to enter into a section 106 agreement to provide financial contributions towards improved bus services, new cycle and walking pathways, healthcare services and road upgrades where necessary. Debby Hallett, cabinet member for corporate services and transformation at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I’m pleased we are taking this innovative approach to planning at Milton Park to help foster new job opportunities, boost the local economy, cut red tape for preferred development and introduce more measures to help us tackle the climate emergency.” Philip Campbell, commercial director at MEPC Milton Park, said: “Simplifying planning is complicated, and in my view Vale of White Horse District Council is a trailblazer for embracing this second generation of 10-day, fast-track planning. I believe the new LDO will be the most comprehensive simplified planning regime anywhere in the UK, setting the benchmark for other local authorities to follow. “It will play a crucial part in supporting the council’s corporate plan and Milton Park’s 2040 Vision – a framework for guiding the park towards innovation district status, positioning itself as one of the most flexible locations for science and technology companies to establish and grow.” The LDO is to be reviewed every five years and will expire in 2041, which aligns with the period envisaged for the proposed joint local plan. To send feedback, e-mail julia.cahill@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGJuliaC or @EGPropertyNews Compare and explore the Oxfordshire market >> Photo courtesy of Meeting Place