The Milton Keynes City Council Planning Committee met on 18 September 2025, and approved recommendations for four planning applications, including the refurbishment of Santander House in Central Milton Keynes. The committee also reviewed reports on development management performance and recent appeal decisions.

Santander House Refurbishment

The committee approved application PLN/2025/0193 for the refurbishment of Santander House, located at 201 Grafton Gate in Central Milton Keynes. The proposal includes demolishing the existing deeds store, creating a central atrium, providing flexible commercial/retail/food and drink space, external alterations, public realm improvements, and a 95-space car park.

While the proposal does not fully meet parking standards outlined in the Parking Standards SPD (2023), the committee determined that the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the project outweighed the parking shortfall. The CMK Town Council supported the application but raised concerns about parking layouts and public access. The MKCC Highways Officer did not object but noted the need for separate approval for a service layby and potential changes to parking restrictions.

The committee considered that the refurbishment would provide high-quality, sustainable office space, aligning with Plan:MK policies DS3 and SD2, which aim to develop CMK as a business hub. The proposed ancillary Class E¹ units and events space were also seen as beneficial, promoting a vibrant, mixed-use environment, consistent with Plan:MK policy SD2 and CMKAP² policy G6.

Other Planning Applications

The committee also approved the following applications:

• PLN/2024/2520 - Continued use of iCentre, Interchange Park, Howard Way, Newport Pagnell, for mixed Class E, B8, and F1 use.
• PLN/2025/1176 - Change of use from dwelling house to a children's care home at 37 Taunton Deane, Emerson Valley.
• PLN/2025/0063 - Retention of change of use from dwellinghouse to a 5-bedroom HMO at 51 Wenford, Broughton.

Development Management Performance

The committee reviewed a report on the performance of the Development Management (DM) team between October 2024 and March 2025. The report (20250918 Item 7 Applications Enforcement and Appeals Performance Update) indicated that 92% of decisions were issued on time, exceeding national and local targets. Despite challenges related to the implementation of new Arcus software, the DM team maintained strong performance.

The report also highlighted enforcement activities, with 232 reports of breaches of planning control received. 78% of priority 3 and 75% of priority 2 cases were investigated within the target timeframes.

Appeal Decisions

The committee received a report (20250918 Item 8 Appeal Decisions Received) detailing appeal decisions received between 24 July and 3 September 2025. Of the appeals decided, 25% were allowed, which is above the previous period but still below the council's target of 25% and the English average of 29%.

The report included analysis of several key appeal decisions, including:

• APP/Y0435/W/25/3366804 - 19 Lavender Hill, Broughton - Appeal dismissed due to concerns about highway safety and parking provision.
• APP/Y0435/W/25/3361062 - The Orchard, East Street, Olney - Appeal allowed for a replacement dwelling, with a unilateral undertaking to secure self-build status.
• APP/Y0435/W/25/3364509 - 26 Radstock Crescent, Broughton - Appeal allowed for a change of use to a children's care home.
• APP/Y0435/H/25/3358630 - 10 - 14 Aylesbury Street, Bletchley - Appeal allowed to vary a condition on an advertisement consent.
• APP/Y0435/H/25/3359521 - Land at Conniburrow Service Station, Portway - Appeal allowed to vary a condition on an advertisement consent.
• APP/Y0435/W/25/3364006 - 2 St Pauls Road, Bletchley - Appeal dismissed for the erection of a single dwelling due to concerns about character, appearance and living conditions.

The committee noted the contents of the report and offered comments as appropriate.