Good progress has been made since the last e-update. Phase A of the Lakes Estate regeneration project, which includes the building of 202 new homes, will be sent for approval by Milton Keynes Council’s Cabinet on 13 July, and then Full Council the following day on 14 July.
Once formally approved, the Council will then begin the process of agreeing contracts with the consultants who’ll be recruited to produce the documentation required for the tender process.
Engineers WSP have already been appointed to manage the ground investigation work of the development areas within the Lakes Estate, which will help inform the type of materials we need to consider for the foundations of the new homes and buildings. It’ll also help to uncover any potential unknown issues which may lie underground.
Lakes Estate Renewal Forum
The next meeting of the Lakes Estate Renewal Forum will take place at 6.30pm on 22 July via zoom. Please do join us if you can. We’ll be presenting a regeneration progress update, as well as sharing the latest local news, updates and other key activities currently going on. If you’d like to attend the Lakes Estate Renewal Forum, please email lakesrenewal@outlook.com.
Serpentine Court Steering Group (SCSG)
The next meeting of the SCSG is on Tuesday 6 July at 6.30pm. If you’d like to attend, please email regeneration@milton-keynes.gov.uk for the joining details.
Public Realm Consultations
Courtyard As: Following the door knocking consultation undertaken with residents in May 2021, the plans consulted on earlier this year have now been reviewed and amended to reflect the comments and feedback received. Serco, the contractors who'll be completing the improvements, recently visited these areas with the design team to help them understand the extent of the works proposed, calculate costs and timescales. Following this visit and confirmation of the costs, MK Council will be able to formally instruct Serco to proceed and a contract start date will be agreed. We'll then be able to confirm the final works and dates with residents.
Courtyard Bs: The latest updated plans, following residents' feedback during the consultation in April 2021, were recently presented at the Lakes Estate Renewal Forum. An additional two weeks have been given to members of this group to forward any further comments for the design team to consider. As with Courtyard As, Serco and the design team will visit the Courtyard B areas, with the same aim of communicating the proposed works, to enable a fixed price and formal instruction for the works to progress. As soon as the final works and dates have been agreed, this will be communicated to residents.
Play area update: Following consultation with Drayton Park and Waterhall Primary school pupils earlier this year, the plans for the four smaller play areas have been amended to reflect the children’s feedback. These revised plans have been circulated to the Council's landscape (who are responsible for their long-term maintenance) and planning teams, to ensure the proposals meet their needs and expectations.
Serco will be responsible for the construction of the new play areas, and they’ve recently completed reviews of the sites. The finalised plans and site meeting will enable Serco to prepare a fixed price for the work. Once the price has been agreed, the Council will instruct Serco to order the equipment and plan in the works. We anticipate work to start later this year, and expect all four play areas to be completed by the end of 2021. Just one play area will be worked on at any point in time, to ensure each play area is completed as quickly as possible and that the children of the Lakes have access to the other play areas during construction works. Once the final plans and costs have been agreed, the Council will install a display at each play area to show the children how their ideas have informed the final design and to communicate the construction dates with the wider community.
Online Mears Repairs Surgery
The next online Mears Repairs Surgery will take place on 13 July between 3.30pm and 5pm. Please email lakesrepairs@outlook.com if you’d like to book an appointment.