imagine mk 2050 strategy - milton keynes

Imagine MK 2050 StrategyA roadmap for a sustainable Milton Keynes

Imagine MK 2050 StrategyA roadmap for a sustainable Milton Keynes

www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/MK2050

FINAL 2015

This document has been prepared byMilton Keynes Council!s Sustainabilty Team.

For further information please contact:Christine Ballard, The Sustainability TeamPublic Realm Service GroupMilton Keynes CouncilCivic Offices1 Saxon Gate EastMilton Keynes, MK9 3EJ

T +44 (0) 1908 254791E [email protected]

Produced in association with

Imagine MK 2050 Roadmap

4

Contents 4

List of Figures 4

1. Introduction to The Imagine 2050 Strategy 5

Our Partner Cities 5

2. Summary 6

3. Background 8

Why climate change is important 8

Objectives for this Project 8

4. How this Stratagy was prepared 9

5. Where are we now? 10

Milton Keynes Core Strategy 12

Programmes and projects underway 13

The Imagine Grid 16

Trends in carbon emissions 18

Projected growth of Milton Keynes 19

6. Where do we want to get to? 20

Scope and themes 20

Theme outcomes 21

7. How are we going to get There? 24

8. Conclusion 25

Contents Figure 1 Strategy Vision, Themes and Outcomes 7

Figure 2 Corporate Plan Vision, Themes and Outcomes 11

Figure 3 Milton Keynes Council Corporate Strategy Policies 12

Figure 4 Summary of the Results of the Grid analysis 16

Figure 5 Latest Figures of Total Emissions (tonnes) in Milton Keynes 18

Figure 6 CO2 Tonnes per person in Milton Keynes 18

Figure 7 Projected Growth of New Dwellings in MK 19

Figure 8 Stakeholder feedback: The Vision 21

Figure 9 Stakeholder feedback: Energy and Buildings 22

Figure 10 Stakeholder feedback: Travel 22

Figure 11 Stakeholder feedback: Waste and Water 22

Figure 12 Stakeholder feedback: Smart City and Community 22

Figure 13 Stakeholder feedback: Open Space and Food 23

List of Figures

A strategy for a Sustainable Milton Keynes

5www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/MK2050

OUR PARTNER CITIES

Munich (DE) Lille (FR) Odense (DK) Figueres (ES)Modena (IT) Bistrita (RO) Dobrich (BG)

All Partner Cities received practical supportfrom Energy Cities who co-ordinated theProject and its academic partners atHamburg University who compared thelocal engagement process of the partnercities. The project team used andexchanged best practice to understand thevariety of political processes involved.

The project also involved local electedmembers in European forums to exchangeideas for a sustainable society in future. TheIMAGINE initiative was a platform forforesight, collaboration and exchangeleading to action and change. The projectstarted in 2011 with 3 years funding.

The Roadmap strategy will be used by theCouncil as a long term strategic documentproviding guiding principles for the future.The pace of change in this area is rapid, sothe strategy will be refreshed as requiredover the coming years.

Imagine 2050 was an opportunity for thecity to look beyond the normal timescalesand boundaries of local governmentthinking and understand the aspirations ofstakeholders for the long term future oftheir city. Milton Keynes is a modern citywith a history of embracing the challengesof the future. With this document the cityaims to be a pathfinder for successful andsustainable communities over the comingdecades.

Energy in a city is more than heat and light.It keeps a city alive and growing, with theconfidence to create a thriving localeconomy, high employment and a goodquality of life for all citizens.

By reducing the city ’s dependency onexternal energy resources, the localeconomy will be more stable in the face ofexternal economic pressures based on fossilfuels. A fossil fuel based economy isassociated with an external energy supplychain, with associated jobs and economicgrowth outside the locality. Development oflocal resources and supplies will entail thecreation of new industries and jobs,improving the economy locally.

Milton Keynes was one of eight European cities who took part in theImagine 2050 Project, funded by the European Union European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF) and the INTERREG IVC Programme. INTERREGIVC provides funding for interregional cooperation across Europe and isimplemented under the European Community’s territorial co-operationobjective.

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE IMAGINE 2050 ROADMAP

IMAGINE MAP OF PARTNERS©RHODOSIGNE


6

The strategy is a long term roadmap for a lowcarbon Milton Keynes. The strategy is the productof the Imagine 2050 Project constructed frominterviews with decision makers; stakeholderworkshops; seminars with partner cities andpublic consultation. The strategy builds on theexisting Low Carbon Living Strategy 2010 andLow Carbon Action Plan produced in 2012 andthe Europe wide reputation that Milton Keynesholds for introducing innovative low carbonsolutions.

The vision of the strategy is: ‘Milton Keynes will bea near zero carbon city with a high quality of lifefor all by 2050’. The definition of ‘near zero carbon’city is for near zero net carbon emissions. This willbe achieved by the twenty to thirty outcomesthat are divided into five themes. The finalnumber of outcomes is dependent on thefeedback from the public consultation but theaim is to keep the number to the minimumnecessary to provide a detailed summary of thestrategy. The outcomes are the aims that weredefined in team and stakeholder workshops; TheVision, Themes and Outcomes are in Figure 1 atthe end of the Summary.

The strategy provides a background of reasonsfor a low carbon framework and how the themesand objectives relate to existing local andnational policies. Details of how the strategy wascreated are outlined in Section 4 with adescription of the tools and processes that wereemployed to build the strategy.

The ability to measure progress is dependent onan appropriate baseline followed by a monitoringprogramme. For this purpose, project partners at

Hamburg University designed a grid tool forImagine 2050. The grid has proved to be usefulnot only for this purpose but also for encouragingdiscussion on policies. Sustainability is already aconsideration in council project/programmeplanning: the grid results have raised theimportance of including low carbon solutions atthe early planning stage. The grid provokesdiscussions of what policies exist: what support isavailable; who are the stakeholders and whichdepartments are potentially involved. The gridchallenges normal thinking with over a thousandquestions and assessments with ared/amber/green (RAG) traffic light system toindicate the current status within the council.Red indicates that much more could be done,and green indicates that we are on the right tracklocally with amber in the middle. The informationgained from the questions in the grid yields avaluable baseline and overview. Regular updatesof the grid will produce sufficient data to aid andassess progress towards a low carbon future.

The priorities for action to achieve the strategyvision are to augment the targets in the 2010 LowCarbon Living Strategy. The overall target is forMK to reduce carbon emissions per person by40% by 2020, from a 2005 baseline and to nearzero carbon by 2050 or sooner. This is achievedby defining challenging but achievable prioritieswithin the council’s strategy guidelines forhousing, planning, open spaces, waste andsustainability. The Strategy also builds on the LowCarbon Living Programme: both provideoverviews of low carbon projects and methods ofcommunication.

Milton Keynes is growing rapidly and this bringsboth challenges and opportunities. Challengesare to reduce energy demand, waterconsumption and waste. Opportunities are forrefurbishment and new build projects to have thebest energy efficiency, ideally passive housestandard to future proof the city’s buildings up to2050 and beyond. Opportunities to keep MiltonKeynes as an energy efficient city are identified inall sectors in the Strategy.

Communication and education are identified aspriorities in the ‘how are we going to get there?’section of the Strategy. If the outcomes areachieved, the quality of life will be improvedthrough co-operation within communities bysourcing energy and food locally.

Any reports to The Council Cabinet requirescomments on “...whether the proposal(s)support(s) the Council’s Carbon and EnergyManagement Policy to maximise energyefficiency and carbon reduction in Councilbuildings, equipment and vehicles and use themost sustainable or renewable energy sources”.The Imagine Strategy compliments this aim byproviding a detailed and deliverable strategy for anear zero carbon Milton Keynes by 2050.

Figure 1 on page 7 is a summary of the Outcomesfor this Roadmap/Low Carbon Strategy. Baselinesfor monitoring the Outcomes in areas notpreviously monitored could be difficult and willbe decided when preparing the action plan.

New ideas such as reducing HGV’s through aLorry Route management strategy are at an early stage.

2. SUMMARY

Figure 1 Strategy Vision, Themes and Outcomes



8

WHY CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPORTANT

Over recent decades there has been a growingrealisation that society’s current development isunsustainable. The consequences of alreadyunavoidable climate change, the increasing stresson our natural resources and environmentalsystems, and the increasing loss of biodiversityare all readily apparent.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change (IPCC), “Warming of the climatesystem is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, manyof the observed changes are unprecedented overdecades to millennia. The atmosphere and oceanhave warmed, the amounts of snow and ice havediminished, sea level has risen, and theconcentrations of greenhouse gases haveincreased “(Fifth Assessment Report, 2013). Thereport also states “It is extremely likely thathuman influence has been the dominant causeof the observed warming since the mid-20thcentury.”

The IPCC predicts that rising temperatures will beaccompanied by many other changes to theEarth system, affecting food and water supplies,human health, biodiversity and the economy.

The Stern Review for the Chancellor on the‘Economics of Climate Change’, published inNovember 2006, demonstrated the economiccase for acting now to avert climate change.Whilst unabated climate change could cost theworld at least 5% of GDP each year and as muchas 20% of GDP if more dramatic predictions cometo pass, the cost of reducing emissions could belimited to around 1% of global GDP.

The effects of climate change are already visibleas more extreme weather. Climate change willincrease the probability of surface water floodingand summer heat wave conditions. As well asadapting to the climate change already in thesystem (“climate change adaptation”), we all needto take urgent action to prevent further warming(“climate change mitigation”).

With these thoughts, Milton Keynes Councildecided to become an exemplar oganisation andhas actively sought to reduce carbon emissions.The Nottingham Declaration, Low CarbonStrategy and sustainable housing policies allcontribute to the council’s input to the ImagineProject.

OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT

The objectives for the Imagine Project in MiltonKeynes are:

• To establish the opinions, concerns andaspirations of both industry and the populationwithin Milton Keynes for energy issues in theircity as they would imagine it to be in 2050.

• To engage citizens and industry by means of aseries of consultative forums with keystakeholders across all sectors over the threeyears of the project.

• To include input from the Youth Council, schoolsand other community groups.

• To produce a strategy for a Low Carbon City thathas a high degree of local buy-in.

• To promote interest and discussion locally onEnergy and Carbon issues.

• To engage citizens and industry in a communityvision for a Low Carbon Milton Keynes in 2050.

• To build on existing Milton Keynes Council LowCarbon strategies and policies.

3. BACKGROUND



1. Stakeholder EngagementThree stakeholder events were held, engaging awide range of stakeholders including those fromthe following sectors:

• Local universities

• Major employers

• Councillors with a particular interest in thetopic

• Hospital and healthcare providers

• Utilities

• Community groups and local NGO’s includingYouth groups

• Members of the public and Milton Keynesresidents

• Architects and developers

The purpose of the first event on 20th November2012 was to provide a long term vision for a lowcarbon future and the major themes andobjectives that should be covered. The focus wason the aspirations of the citizens and facilitatedby professional facilitators “Inform”.

The purpose of the second event on 14th May2013 was to build on the themes emerging fromthe first event and to envision the actions thatneed to happen to fulfil the vision provided bythe first event.

In the third stakeholder event on 26th June 2014,the Vision, Themes and Outcomes were testedagainst stakeholder expectations and copies of adraft of the Strategy were made available forviewing. A public consultation followed thisevent in the form of a web survey.

2. Use of the Project Grid ToolAll cities taking part in the project used thisspreadsheet to collate information about currentactivities, strategies, strengths and weaknesses ineach sector. Information to complete the Gridwas acquired by analysis of existing plans andstrategies, interviews with heads of departmentswithin the Council and the manager of the localwater authority. More information on the Grid isin Section 5.

The sections in the grid are grouped into thefollowing themes:

• Energy Generation, Distribution andConsumption

• Mobility and Transport

• Urban Planning

• Waste

• Housing and Buildings

• Water

• Health & Liveability

• Lifestyle Consumption Patterns.

It is noted that feedback from the thirdstakeholder workshops identified the exclusion of the use of modelling and employment. Although these subjects are beyond the scope ofthis strategy, they may be considered again infuture versions of the Low Carbon Strategy.

3. SynthesisUsing the aspirations and proposed actionsgained from the first two stakeholder events andthe information gained from the Grid about thecurrent state of low carbon activities, togetherwith the existing low carbon strategy documentin Milton Keynes, the project team synthesised astrategy for a low carbon future using a series ofworkshops. The resulting vision, outcomes andpolicies form the output of this project.

4. Use of Council GuidelinesThe Council has its own guidelines for strategydevelopment which have been produced toensure a consistent approach across theorganisation in developing or reviewing anystrategy, policy or plan.

There five elements of the guidance are:

• Context

• Vision

• Priorities

• Accountability

• General

These guidelines provide a common set of termsand format. They are not meant to apply hard andfast rules but allow for adaptation. Preparation ofthe Strategy has followed these principles.

5. Promotional EventsThe Imagine MK2050 project has been promotedat events during the EU Sustainable EnergyWeeks 2012, 2013 and 2014 and other local andnational events attended by the team.

6. Next StepsThe Strategy was presented for publicconsultation through a web-based survey in thesummer of 2014 and workshops at a local schools’event “MYsayMK” on 9th July 2014. The Strategywas revised with the feedback from these eventsand incorporated into the final document inNovember 2014.

4. HOW THIS STRATEGY WAS PREPARED

The strategy was prepared by stakeholder engagement, collectinginformation from decision makers and public consultation. Details of theseelements are outlined below.


10

5. WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Information collected in the Imagine grid indicates Milton Keynes Council and the UK government already have good policiesfor a low carbon future but that there is room for improvement.

POLICY CONTEXT

Local Policies

The Council has two key policy documents whichare particularly relevant. These are the CorporatePlan and the Core Strategy.

1. The Corporate Plan 2012-16 This was last refreshed in January 2014. The Planhas five themes and a list of desired outcomes.These themes and outcomes are in Figure 2 onpage 11. The Plan clearly illustrates the Council iscommitted to a low carbon agenda and aims tocontinue to be a leading city for new approachesand a test bed for new technologies.



Figure 2 Corporate Plan Vision, Themes and Outcomes


12

Policy CSA National Planning Policy Framework -Presumption in favour of sustainable development.

Policy CS1 Milton Keynes Development Strategy.Incorporates the Strategic Land Allocation and SiteAllocations Plan.

Policy CS2 Housing Land Supply, Land for around 2,900 homes is reserved under theHousing Land Supply Position 2010-2026.

Policy CSAD1 Review of the Core Strategy. Early review by objective assessment to adopt Plan:MK in 2015.

Policy CS3 Employment Land Supply.Milton Keynes has a key role with the South EastMidlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) andthe Strategy aims for an employment growth rate of1.5 jobs per new home. An average of 42,000 jobs peryear until 2026 are required to meet this aim.

Policy CS4 Retail and Leisure Development. CentralMilton Keynes is the primary shopping area, with afurther four District Centres and four Town Centres.

Policy CS5 Strategic Land Allocation.There are four Strategic Reserve Areas and a furtherfour areas of land in or around the urban area of MiltonKeynes that are allocated as Sustainable UrbanExtensions to Milton Keynes.

Policy CS6 Place-shaping Principles for SustainableUrban Extensions in Adjacent Local Authorities.Policies for development, infrastructure, transport,utilities and funding of the Extensions.

Policy CS7 Central Milton Keynes.Key objectives are high quality buildings, high densitydevelopment where appropriate, attract visitors, providea range of travel options, encourage walking, cycling,pedestrian-friendly routes and public transport.

Policy CS8 Other Areas of Change. Incorporating theNeighbourhood Regeneration Strategy, planningpermissions already granted, town centre changes andsustainable patterns of transport to areas of change.

Policy CS9 Strategy for the Rural Area.Preparation of Site Allocation Plan to identify land foraround 110 homes a year to be build in the rural areas ofMilton Keynes.

Policy CS10 Housing. Work with the Homes andCommunities Agency and in accordance with PolicyCS2, new and refurbished housing provisionincorporating energy efficiency, renewable energy,carbon neutrality, safety and 'lifetime homes'. Design toencourage non-car travel, affordable housing, multipleoccupancy and be suitable for elderly persons, specialneeds, single people, religious, ethnic or lifestylegroups and traveller site needs will be assessed.

Policy CS11 A Well Connected Milton Keynes.Incorporating Local Transport Plan 3: vision andstrategy objectives for public transport, communitytransport, future modes of transport, cycling, walking,smarter choices, behavioural change encouragement,highway and traffic management, technology-information provision, web based technology, futuremodes of transport and alternative fuels, highway andRedway management and integrated planning andframeworks for transport with new developments.Work with neighbouring local authorities and transportproviders to improve accessibility and meet increasingdemand for movement of people and goods whileimproving quality of life and reducing the Borough'scarbon footprint.

Policy CS12 Developing Successful Neighbourhoods.Support for sustainable lifestyle choices in newdevelopments and major redevelopments.Incorporates MK Open Space Strategy, encourageshome working, locating developments to maintainand improve flood risk and air quality management.

Policy CS13 Ensuring High Quality, Well DesignedPlaces. High design quality of sustainable buildingswith a positive contribution to character of the area,and appropriate population density for the area.

Policy CS14 Community Energy Networks and LargeScale Renewable Energy Schemes. Promotion ofrenewable energy schemes that demonstrate nonegative social, economic or environmental results ofthe scheme. Encouragement of proposals forcommunity energy networks for over 100 homes andconnection of new developments to existing localenergy networks expected if feasible.

Policy CS15 Delivering Economic Prosperity. Skilledworkforce encouraged by delivery of schools, trainingfacilities, science parks, improved broadband/highspeed internet across the Borough, development ofsites for sport, tourism and cultural events, attractingemployers and investment, supporting developmentof creative industries and further development ofheritage and tourist attractions.

Policy CS16 Supporting Small Businesses. Encouragebuilding of small business units, live/work units andprovision of services and facilities appropriate to smallbusinesses.

Policy CS17 Improving access to local services andfacilities. Protecting, encouraging and improving openspaces, leisure, recreation, sport, community facilities,local centres, village shops, public houses and PostOffices. Improving access for students to educationfacilities by public transport.

Policy CS18 Healthier and Safer Communities.Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour by workingwith SaferMK and best practice guidelines in SaferPlaces and Secured by Design. Emergency planningand security on linear parks and Redway systems.

Policy CS19 The Historic and Natural Environment.Green infrastructure, linear parks, open spaces andprotecting character, buildings and structures that areof historic, architectural, cultural, biodiversity orarcheological significance.

Policy CS20 Minerals. Sustainable, realistic andachievable levels of sand and gravel extraction andaftercare of sites.

Policy CS21 Delivering Infrastructure. Support andmitigation of impacts of new developments andreliable mechanisms for delivery of high standards ofdevelopments under a new Planning ObligationsSupplementary Planning Document delivered throughSection 106 agreements. The Milton Keynes Tariff willcontinue to operate on sites covered by theFramework Agreement when the CommunityInfrastructure Levy is introduced locally under the s106agreements.

2. The Milton Keynes Core Strategy

This is an overarching planning policy document,which all Planning Authorities are required toproduce. The Core Strategy Policies are listed in thetext box in Figure 3 with additional comments tohighlight the relevance to the Strategy. Policiesoutline the guidelines to deliver the Vision of theCorporate Plan. The Core Strategy in use today is theadopted version approved in July 2013. MiltonKeynes is a city that is growing rapidly and theCouncil regularly review policies to take into accountthe dynamic character of the Borough. The newCore Strategy will be reviewed to produce Plan:MK.

Figure 3 Milton Keynes Council Corporate Strategy Policies



In addition to the Core Strategy andCorporate Plan, Milton Keynes hasan existing Low Carbon LivingStrategy 2010 and Action Plan2012, became a signatory to theCovenant of Mayors in 2011,introduced Policy D4 into the LocalPlan and has published a lowcarbon prospectus. Details of theseinitiatives are in the following threepages:

Low Carbon Living Strategy and Action Plan.

This aims to place Milton Keynes at the forefront of lowcarbon living, nationally and internationally. It has atarget to reduce carbon emissions per person in the MKarea by 40% by 2020 from a 2005 baseline. The Imaginestrategy/ roadmap will be a refresh of the Low CarbonLiving Strategy and build on the existing target for MKto reduce carbon emissions per person by 40% by 2020by adding to near zero carbon by 2050 or sooner.

Covenant of Mayors

Milton Keynes Council is a signatory to the NottinghamDeclaration on climate change and the EU Covenant ofMayors that includes a commitment to cut carbonemissions by at least 20% by 2020.

Local Plan – Policy D4.

This requires high energy efficiency, 10% renewableenergy and carbon neutrality/offsetting for all majordevelopments. The proposed policy refresh in the MKCore Strategy sets out new objectives that will requirenew developments to achieve even higher energyefficiency and an increase to 20% in the proportion ofthe carbon emission reductions through onsiterenewable energy production.

The Council also has sector strategies and plans whichare key to delivering a low carbon future including:

• The Low Carbon Living Programme

• The Local Transport Plan, Walking Strategy andCycling Strategy

• MK Zero Waste Strategy

• Housing Strategy

Low Carbon Prospectus

This prospectus describes the original concept ofMilton Keynes as a city who thinks differently, embracesevolution and champions change. Details of how thecity has developed with the aims of sustainablecommunities with 40% of land set aside to provideopen spaces, pioneering low energy housingdevelopments and a society with educational,technological and economic advantages for rural andurban areas.

PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS UNDERWAY


14

The Low Carbon Living Programme

The Low Carbon Living Programme was initiatedby Milton Keynes Council for the purpose ofreducing carbon emissions in the Borough by40% from 2005 levels by 2020. This would beachieved by developing partnerships with otheragencies and organisations and engaging withresidents, the business community and partnersto focus on projects that reduce carbonemissions.

Projects in the Programme include MK Smart datahub, renewable energy and energy efficiencyinitiatives such as Salix where capital loans forenergy efficient measures are repaid by savingson energy costs, low carbon transport such aselectric buses and car charging points, publicengagement and research and Project Falcon: –(Flexible Approaches to Low Carbon OptimizedNetworks). The Sustainability Team co-ordinatethe Low Carbon Living Programme. The SteeringGroup meet at the Council Offices every threemonths to discuss progress and shareinformation.

This Programme has proved successful as aplatform for dissemination of ideas for low carboninitiatives and collaboration of stakeholders as aresult of sharing project knowledge, along withcommunication and networking opportunities.The scheme continues to produce valuableresults with support from businesses,organisations, utility companies and departmentswithin Milton Keynes Council.

The Low Carbon Prospectus

The Low Carbon Prospectus is the result of acollaboration of Milton Keynes Council, MiltonKeynes Partnership, NHBC (National HouseBuilding Council) and the Zero Carbon Hub. Itwas commissioned in 2010 by Milton KeynesCouncil to establish the city as an internationalcentre of excellence for low carbon living.

The prospectus demonstrates the integratedsustainable approach to housing, education,energy, water and transport with a vision for alow carbon and sustainable Milton Keynes thatconsiders the housing, amenities, education,lifestyle, the green economy, jobs, wastetreatment, electrification of transport and smartpower grids in the rural and urban areas of MiltonKeynes.

Technology

The prospectus describes the ground breakingpast and present environmental initiatives inMilton Keynes. These include the first large scalecombined heat and power plant supplying thenew communities in Central Milton Keynes, thesuccessful Plugged-in Places project whichprovides an electric vehicle charging pointinfrastructure and an innovative local BioGasplant which will produce gas from localhousehold community waste.

Community and Local Initiatives

The prospectus describes local volunteer groupsand knowledge networks working towards lowimpact living, food produced locally and ideas forsaving energy.

Low Carbon Buildings and Transport

The prospectus provides examples of energyefficient developments including the three storeyextension of Oakgrove School that achieved aBREEAM rating of ‘very good’, The award winningVizion: a high density mixed use development oflarge supermarket, commercial and retail unitsand 441 apartments and town houses over 4 to12 storeys. All the Vizion buildings were designedto meet BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard and EcoHomes ‘Very Good’. Electricity and heating aresupplied by the Central Milton Keynes CombinedHeat and Power (CHP) system. The 1300 homes,shops and community facilities of the TattenhoePark development has a sustainable urbandrainage scheme and is a test bed for smart gridapplications.

10:10 Campaign

Milton Keynes Council joined the national 10:10campaign which aimed to motivate individualsand organisations to cut their carbon emissionsby 10% in 2010.



Other Low Carbon Projects underway inMilton Keynes

Low carbon, high tech projects and industries areattracted to Milton Keynes. The Council also hassome low carbon projects underway. Examples ofsuch organisations and projects are as follows:-

• The Transport Catapult

• The Electric Bus trial

• A Smart Grid trial/Project Falcon

• A Waste to Energy plant under construction

• An Anaerobic Digester plant which will convertfood and garden waste into biofuel

• EON ‘Thinking Energy’ project

• Start-up of a ‘Green Deal’ Provider company

• A GIS – Based Energy Map

• MKC management of a local Salix Fund whichhas benefited several schools with a range ofenergy efficiency measures and provided lowenergy lighting for the central Library, a projectexpected to save the Council more than£11,000 a year at today’s prices by changing toLED lighting.

• Boiler Cashback Scheme

• Carbon Offset Fund – A scheme linked to theLocal Plan Policy D4. The fund provides anincentive for developers to meet the energyefficiency aims of Milton Keynes Council bycharging a premium relative to the predictedCO2 emissions of the building of £200/tonneCO2/pa. The fund is used to finance energyefficiency refurbishments of older properties inMilton Keynes.

National Policy

The Government’s Climate Change Act 2008 setsout legally binding targets for the UK to reducecarbon dioxide emissions by at least 80% by 2050and 26% by 2020, against 1990 levels. The Policystates:

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State toensure that the net UK carbon account for theyear 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990baseline.

(2) “The 1990 baseline” means the aggregateamount of :—

(a) net UK emissions of carbon dioxide for thatyear, and (b) net UK emissions of each of theother targeted greenhouse gases for the yearthat is the base year for that gas.

In effect this is a UK strategy for reducinggreenhouse gas emissions. The Act provides aframework for reducing specific greenhouse gasemissions by provision of a carbon budgetingsystem, establishing a Committee on ClimateChange and conferring powers to establishgreenhouse gas emissions trading schemes. Italso makes provisions for climate changeadaptation, financial incentives to reducedomestic waste and charges for single use carrierbags and amends the Energy Act 2004 regardingrenewable transport fuel obligations. Datacompiled for the Carbon Reduction Commitmentshows the Milton Keynes Council has achieved a28% reduction in Green House Gases in their ownestates. This data reflects the actions of numerousinitiatives and projects MK Council hasundertaken and is more specific than the 23%from the Department of Energy and ClimateChange estimate.


16

The Grid has eight sectors with a number of aimsfor each area :

• Energy Generation, Distribution andConsumption: 10 aims

• Mobility and Transport: 9 aims

• Urban Planning: 7 aims

• Waste: 4 aims

• Housing and Buildings: 21 aims

• Water: 6 aims

• Health and Liveability: 7 aims

• Lifestyle Consumption Patterns: 2 aims

The 66 aims each have 18 questions concerningpolicy, responsibilities of each level of thegovernment structure, tools and instruments,finance, support and stakeholders. For each ofthese 1188 questions, an assessment of progresswas required on a red/amber/green (RAG) scale: atotal of 2376 responses.

The responses provided descriptions of thecurrent status of carbon management in MiltonKeynes. The RAG assessment is based on thetraffic light idea where green indicates that ‘all go’and sufficient work is being done, amberindicates a transition stage; some progress isunderway and red indicates that little or noaction is being taken towards a low carbonfuture.

The Grid was completed by members of theSustainability Team at Milton Keynes Councilthrough policy analysis, interviews with heads ofdepartments and programme managers fromplanning, transport, housing, sustainability andwaste and the regional manager of the watercompany. All personnel were willing tocontribute to the project and keen to maintaincommunication. This is a useful project output asthe Sustainability Team will continue to facilitatecross sector communication.

The grid produces a spidergram/webgram foreach sector illustrating each question as apercentage score. The cumulative results of the1188 traffic lights are summarized in Figure 4.Each sector result is a combination of thequestions that provide an overall percentage.

The Imagine Grid was developed by the project partners at the University of Hamburg. The tool was developed specifically for the Imagine Project. The aims of the tool is to engage stakeholders,encourage discussion and collate this information into a spreadsheet that assesses the current situation. This information is then used to produce a graph, referred to as a spidergram or webgram, that illustrates how the city is progressing towards a low carbon future.

THE IMAGINE GRID

Figure 4 Summary of the results of the grid analysis



The diagram in Figure 4 highlights two areas inthe red: consumption patterns and water. Thelow score is due to water being in the control ofthe local water authority, Anglian Water, so not inthe Council’s jurisdiction. Anglian Water do havegood projects in place for reducing water andprovide Milton Keynes Council with an accountmanager but the score is low because theCouncil has a lack of influence on policies of thelocal water authority.

The ‘consumption patterns’ sector is in the redbecause there is little in place to encourage localfood production or buying schemes. The grid hasidentified this sector as an opportunity for newprojects to improve low carbon food sourcingand food production.

The grid tool is a major output of the project andwill be used alongside another product: theHandbook. The Handbook will be made availableto other cities for guidance on developing lowcarbon futures. The Handbook will providesuggestions from partner cities and giveexamples of best practice.

The grid is a useful tool for assessing progress inMilton Keynes, particularly where benchmarks aredifficult to establish in the Lifestyle ConsumptionPatterns section.

Each project partner has completed the gridassessment. The results provide ideas from arange of climates across Europe. Each partner citywill have different demands for heating andcooling.


18

The Councils 2010 Low Carbon Strategy aimswere:

• To make MK a leading example of low carbon living

• To cut emissions by 40% by 2020

The latest figures (2012) on total CO2 emissions(tonnes) in MK are shown in Figure 5. Thesefigures are estimations of emissions within thescope of influence of local authorities’ from theGovernment Department of Energy and ClimateChange. The MK trend in per person emissionsfrom 2005 to 2012 is a fall of 23%, which is ontrack to meet the 40% target by 2020.

The total for 2012 increased 3% from 2011, mainlydue to more domestic gas use (2012 being acolder year than 2011) and more use of coal forelectricity generation nationally. Neither of thesefactors can be influenced locally.

Figure 6 shows the carbon reduction by sectorper person in Milton Keynes since 2005. Theoverall target is for MK to reduce carbonemissions per person by 40% by 2020, from a2005 baseline and to near zero carbon by 2050 orsooner. The trend line indicates Milton Keynes ismeeting the target. The MK2050 Strategyprovides ideas to build on this direction ofprogress.

TRENDS IN CARBON EMISSIONS

Commerce Domestic Transport Total

Year 2005 2012 2005 2012 2005 2012 2005 2012

MK (000’s)

801 651 532 502 403 368 1,736 1,521

MK emissions per person

3.6 2.6 2.4 2.0 1.9 1.5 7.8 6.0

SE England 2.5 2.1 2.5 2.2 1.8 1.5 6.8 5.8

Figure 5 Latest Figures of Total Emissions (tonnes) in Milton Keynes

Figure 6 CO2 Tonnes per person in Milton Keynes



Population

The Milton Keynes population in 2013 (mid-year)was estimated to be 255,700 . The population ofMilton Keynes has increased by 43,000 since2001. This is a growth of 20.2% compared with agrowth rate of 8.9% for England. By 2026 it isestimated the population of Milton Keynes willgrow to 302,100.

In 2012, Milton Keynes had a younger age profilethan England. The under 15 demographicaccounts for 22.4% in MK: 19% in England.Around 11.7% of MK citizens are over 65compared to 17.3% of the population of England

Housing and Employment

The recent completion of the Eastern ExpansionArea brought 4000 new homes along withemployment areas, local amenities and publicopen spaces on a 350 ha site. The WesternExpansion Area includes areas allocated toemployment, parkland and provision for 6,500homes. A further 192 ha of land to the East ofMilton Keynes is allocated for employment areas,amenities and 2,900 homes.

Outline permission was granted in 2009 for 6,600new homes in the Western urban extension areabetween 2026 and 2028. This would createaround 3,450 jobs in small scale employmentarea and approximately 4,500 jobs in schools,retail and community facilities across the city.

A further 4,000 dwellings are expected to becompleted between 2021 and 2026 in theEastern urban extension area, see Figure 7 forgraph of this projected growth. Over 14,000 jobsare expected to be created from thisdevelopment of housing, large manufacturingand warehousing developments, small scalebusinesses and schools, retail and communitysectors.

Business

The February/March 2014 EconomicDevelopment Newsletter reports thatVolkswagen Financial Services Ltd are buildingtheir new head office in Milton Keynes and JohnLewis Partnership has started work on theirsecond distribution warehouse. The MiltonKeynes University Campus and BusinessLeadership Centre opened in September 2013and Waitrose have commenced a new nationaldistribution centre in Milton Keynes that willcover 45 acres, one of the largest in the UnitedKingdom.

The number of smaller business units andbusiness start-up rates continues to rise in MK.The Financial Times described MK as “anextremely prosperous town” in an article inFebruary 2014 along with a quote that MK was inthe top 10 cities for high employment rates in2012 with 74.9 % .

This level of development and job creationgenerates a demand on infrastructure: energy

supply, water supply and treatment, transportlinks, schools, health care, shops, parking andsufficient open spaces to maintain the clean andgreen character of Milton Keynes. The Council hasinfrastructure plans and planning policies for thesustainable development of a fast growing city.The vision and objectives of the Imagine ProjectStrategy can contribute to the prosperous futureof Milton Keynes with ideas and consensus of thecity’s stakeholders.

PROJECTED GROWTH OF MILTON KEYNES

Figure 7 Projected Growth of New Dwellings in MK


20

Milton Keynes will be a near zerocarbon city with a high quality oflife for all by 2050.

The first two stakeholder groups of the ImagineProject examined the vision for a future MiltonKeynes. While keen to have a zero carbon future,it was acknowledged that quality of life must bemaintained or improved. Some activities whichreduce carbon may not be acceptable anddifficult to deliver. We have therefore distilled thediscussions into a single sentence:

Milton Keynes will be a near zero carbon city witha high quality of life for all by 2050.

“near Zero carbon” means a city with net carbonemissions close as reasonably possible to zero.

SCOPE AND THEMESThe Strategy is a plan for Milton Keynes toachieve a low carbon future in the city, itsownership rests with the Council.

The Council has many roles in the provision ofservices that produce carbon emissions includingschools, waste management, street lighting andsocial housing. The Council also has the roles ofenabler, information provider, enforcer oflegislation and a major procurer. The Council alsoplays a role in providing joint services, inparticular with the National Health Service,Thames Valley Police and the Fire Service. Thestrategy takes into account these wider roles ofthe council, not just the services the Councilprovides.

The strategy has been limited to certain activities,sectors and themes which are known toinfluence carbon emissions. The project teamwho produced this strategy looked at wideractivities, criteria, themes and sectors than thosein the Imagine project documentation including:

• criteria for “eco towns”

• themes taken from Government PlanningPolicy Statement 1 and regional sustainabilitypolicy

• the themes produced by the first publicengagement workshop

The Project Team considered the following 4factors:

• Does the activity directly affect carbonemissions and would changes influence a lowcarbon future?

• Is the carbon from the activity currently beingmeasured and if not, could it be measured?

• Does the activity directly affect quality of life?

• Was the theme raised by stakeholders?

This exercise produced agreement that threethemes were requisite as they are at the core ofall similar strategies:

• Energy use in buildings and appliances

• Energy generation

• Travel and mobility.

The following themes were included becausethey met at least three of the four qualifyingfactors above:

• waste

• water

• open/green space

• food production

• communication, intelligence and smartworking

• community co-operation/cohesion

Although the last two themes are difficult tomeasure, they were thought to be essential tothe delivery of a low carbon future and thereforeincluded in the strategy.

The Project Team chose not to include thefollowing themes:

• Adapting to the effects of climate changebecause the aim of the strategy is to mitigatethe need for adaptation

• Modelling because of budget restrictions

• Employment because it is outside of thejurisdiction on the project.

• Biodiversity because retaining and improvingbiodiversity is an anticipated outcome of theproject and not a means of reducing carbon inits own right.

6. WHERE DO WE WANT TO GET TO?



The scope and themes were organized into fivestreams before going to managers and theplanning department for review, the stakeholderevents and the web survey:

• Buildings and Energy Generation

• Travel and Mobility

• Water and waste

• Smart working and Community

• Open Space and Food

The results of the research and stakeholderfeedback are summarised in Figures 8 to 13.

• Not enough emphasis upon the need forcommunication, education, behaviourchange, employment and empowering

• How do we reduce carbon when the city isgrowing?

• Need to integrate all sectors –business/academic/voluntary/schools etcand have a more collaborative approachrather than a “top down”/centralisedapproach.

• Some low carbon actions could be obtainedby enforcement such as fines but would bebetter if they could be obtained byencouragement.

• Is the 2050 timescale too far ahead? Thingsare more likely to get done if you plan for thenext 5-6 years - interim stages needed.

• How to future proof the city and deal withthe unknowns?

• Good because high quality of life – peoplewill have to change their lifestyle.

• It isn’t a zero carbon city we need, justpeople to be more thoughtful.

• Need to focus on social issues and people inneed, shouldn’t let technological issues takepriority.

• If the city is zero carbon, people will wasteenergy.

• These ideas in the strategy could catch onthroughout the world –bigger countries(USA, China) and become a global project

• Historical houses- don’t destroy heritagewith new technology.

• Low carbon diet –not so good for meateaters, better for vegetarians

• Ambitious target; explain scale of task.

• Doesn't go far enough, could do more.

• People should be more self-sufficient anddo more for themselves.

• People are becoming lazy with driverlesscars, lack of exercise and reliance ontechnology instead of thinking.

• Keep green space for leisure, not growingfood, biomass or building houses.

• Should life cycle analysis be considered?

• Need change immediately.

• Limit population of MK.

The Vision:

THEME OUTCOMES

Figure 8 Stakeholder feedback: The Vision


22

• District heating and CHP are not appropriate for every site.

• Homes could be more flexible.

• Some homes need to be replaced.

• Can we start retrofitting now?

• Keep some buildings the same and makenew buildings the zero carbon policy.

• Zero carbon houses will be moreexpensive because getting the house to acertain standard will cost more money.

• Homeless people could be given highcarbon houses that cost less but cost a lotto heat and run.

• Difficult to upgrade historic houses butshould keep them.

• Planners aren’t being strict enough –developers should pay more.

• Where would people stay during theupgrades?

• More advertisement on the outcomes.

• Developers made to build to highestenergy efficiency standards.

• Cost of low carbon homes might be tooexpensive for some people to buy

• People should be more thoughtful andcareful about energy use.

Energy and Buildings:

• How to reduce the need to travel?

• Good because you can use electric car.

• If you don’t think about where you aredriving you will become very lazy and yourbrain might be lazy too.

• (On demand ‘pods’) - You couldn’t reallyown your own car as you call a different careach time, also you might be in a carwhich has got lots of rubbish and food.

• Electric Cars might reduce the amount ofcar theft.

• If there are more electrical things beingbuilt/invented then there would be morechance of a fire.

• Challenge in converting larger vehicles,can we do without lorries?

• Give ‘rules’ for when people change cars sothey use more electric cars.

• Increase amount of eco-friendly cars sold.

• Encourage more exercise and sport.

• Power cuts are bad for electric vehicles.

• Satellite problems for electric cars?

• Need to educate people it is safer andhealthier to walk.

Travel:

• There is not enough emphasis on wasteminimisation - need a minimisation target.

• Worry about reusing rain water - may becontaminated or not very clean.

• Water use per person will have to drop.

• We should educate people on the need ofcutting water levels back.

• When we cut back on food and water, giveit to poorer countries e.g. Africa.

• Worry that we may have no water at all asthe planet gets warmer and water couldevaporate.

• Collect water in homes and treat it athome - start building rainwater catchinghouses now.

• Invent things that reduce water usage.

Waste and Water:

• People are now worried aboutsafety/crime/privacy issues in relation totechnology.

• Will there be space to grow food with allthe houses being built.

• Space isn’t being used efficiently.

• Solar panels in the roads and parks couldheat the roads during winter weather sotrucks with grit won’t be needed.

• Smart City will be very expensive.

• Solar panels would need to be replacedafter time.

• Running costs and servicing of a SmartCity will be high.

• Problems with communities not talkingand issues with community.

• MK grid system doesn't work so no pointin creating another.

• Negative view of networking-fear/vulnerability of security, terroristattack, power/satellite failure.

• Sceptical about community food andenergy projects: no spare time, need to bepaid for time.

Smart City and Community:

Figure 9 Stakeholder feedback: Energy and Buildings Figure 10 Stakeholder feedback: Travel Figure 11 Stakeholder feedback: Waste and Water Figure 12 Stakeholder feedback: Smart City and Community



• We need to look at open space as aresource with multiple purposes.

• Need to look at 3 dimensions – e.g. use ofroof space.

• If more people grow food there will be toomany farms and not enough space forwildlife.

• If more food is being grown, where are wegoing to build the houses?

• People’s health is important.

• Can not stop people eating meat.

• Where are we going to grow the food?

• Where will we grow things? – there is notmuch space anyway.

• When will we find the time for growingfood.

• Many people may not be bothered togrow food.

• People could be employed to grow thecrops.

• People may want to be part of this and itcould lead to overpopulation.

• Encourage local mass production of food.

• Low carbon/vegetarian diets will not be forthe majority of people.

• Space for local food production may bedifficult to find.

Open Space and Food:Many of these issues relate to “how we get there”rather than “where we want to be”. The Strategy is not an action plan but the Themes andOutcomes will be amended to include some ofthese points along with responses from thepublic consultation web survey which closed atthe end of August. A full list of feedback andresponses is available at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/mk2050

Figure 13 Stakeholder feedback: Open Space and Food


24

7. HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?

• Promotion of low carbon solutions throughmonitoring of major development applicationsand liaison with the Planning Team.

• Maintain close monitoring of projects andfacilitating meetings for the members of theLow Carbon Living Programme Steering Group

• Maintain working partnerships andcommunications with Council departments,public and private sector stakeholdersincluding:

- The National Health Service, Public HealthEngland and Thames Valley Police

- Businesses through the networks of the LowCarbon Living Programme, Green EnergyClub, Chamber of Commerce and the local Energy Club

- Utility companies: energy, water and communications

- Local community and voluntaryorganisations

- Economic development and employmentorganisations through existing link with theSouth East Midlands Local EnterprisePartnership

• Improve communication and educationopportunities by publicising low carbonactions and annual refresh of the Low CarbonLiving Communications Plan.

• Publicise Government and utility companygrants and funding opportunities andsubsidies for energy efficiency and reducingcarbon through web updates and pressreleases.

• Improve management, monitoring anddissemination of carbon data

• Monitor progress of Strategy outcomes bytracking changes of the established 2005baseline and benchmark. Modelling will takeinto account the planned growth of the city to2050 using the back casting technique ofworking back from the ultimate goal andidentifying land marks between the presentand 2050.

• Encourage innovation by consultations withstakeholders to create a range of techniquesfor reducing carbon, particularly at the earlystages of development such as biofuel fromalgae and autonomous vehicles. There will benew technologies that could contribute to thereputation of Milton Keynes as a city of thefuture and these will be assessed for suitabilityfor the city.

• The Strategy shares common ground with theexisting Economic Development Strategy socollaboration is planned to share ideas, identifyfunding streams and encourage capitalinvestment in low carbon, sustainabletechnologies, solutions and projects. This willpromote economic growth and produce

opportunities for new business andemployment.

• Work with communities to employ localpeople to deliver projects. Encourage localnetworks of energy production, foodproduction and recycling initiatives. Theseenterprises would keep expenditure onnecessities within the local economy, produceless waste, build on community cohesion andproduce employment opportunities.

• The focus will be for energy efficiency inbuildings to reduce demand, then focus onheat demand as this accounts for around athird of energy use in Milton Keynes. Heatnetworks and energy from waste would makea significant contribution to lowering fossil fuelconsumption.

• It is acknowledged that it is a significantchallenge to reduce carbon in the Borough ofMilton Keynes to near zero net carbonemissions. This will require collaboration ofdepartments within MK Council, appropriatefunding and citizen participation in projects atboth the planning and implementation stages.

Priorities for action to achieve the Vision augmentthe 2010 Low Carbon Action Plan by definingchallenging but achievable priorities. The aim ofachieving a near zero net carbon emission MK isan aspiration and an action plan will be requiredto work towards delivering this outcome.

• The Action Plan will include regular updates ofthe Low Carbon Living Strategy 2010 withSMART objectives:

S - specific, significant, stretching

M - measurable, meaningful, motivational

A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable,acceptable, action-oriented

R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding,results-oriented

T - time-based, time-bound, timely, tangible,track-able

• Consider carbon reduction and sustainability inall Milton Keynes Council Plans and Strategies.This will include decisions on Transport,Buildings, Planning, Waste and Open Spaceswhich will subsequently feed into Plan:MK, theCore Strategy and the Corporate Plan.

• Regular monitoring of Cabinet Reports tooversee relevance to carbon emissions.



8. CONCLUSION

Travel will be by near zero carbon technology atpoint of use and use of public transport andcycling will be encouraged.

Reduce production of waste, increase recyclingand maximise energy from waste wherereduction and recycling are not feasible. Movewaste by using low carbon vehicles.

Conserve water and reduce the amount ofenergy used to treat waste water.

Encourage and support community led initiativesinto energy reduction, energy production,transport, technology, local businesses and foodproduction.

Milton Keynes Council will lead by example withthese aims.

The aim of the Imagine Project was to gatherideas for low carbon cities and share theknowledge with project partners. Ideas havebeen brought together in Milton Keynes throughresearch, interviews and workshops with citizensand decision makers. The project is not an actionplan, it is a strategy. An action plan will followwithin twelve months. The information will beused to create a timeline to a near zero carbonMilton Keynes in the Action Plan.

The strategy direction will be determined by theAction Plan that builds on the existing MiltonKeynes Low Carbon Living Strategy. This newstrategy adds the aim to reach near zero carbonby 2050 or sooner. The landmarks on the way willconsist of actions on the Themes and Outcomesdetermined in the Sustainability Team andstakeholder workshops. These landmarks aresummarised below.

Energy efficiency will be encouraged by zerocarbon new build developments and upgrades ofexisting building stock.

District heating, combined heat and power andrenewable energy will be utilised whereappropriate.

www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/MK2050

Available in audio, large print, braille and other languages

01908 254791

Milton Keynes CouncilCivic Offices1 Saxon Gate EastCentral Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ

T 01908 254791E [email protected]

imagine mk 2050 strategy - milton keynes

Documents