The Core Strategy sets an overall housing target for the borough of 28,000 homes in the period 2010-2026. The inspector said in her report (37-page / 310KB PDF) that, although the Council's Strategic Housing Market Assessment from 2009 was now out of date, the target was "generally in accordance with the demographic and other evidence" on housing needs.
The inspector said, however, that the target of 28,000 homes should be expressed as a minimum figure. "There is no overriding sustainability reason to treat it as a cap," she said.
The inspector also said that, because the plan had come forward in a period of "some uncertainty about the wider sub-regional and regional context for the future growth of Milton Keynes" following the Government's abolition of Regional Strategies, it should be subject to an "early review".
An early review will provide "greater clarity" about the role that Milton Keynes and its hinterland will plan in the longer term, she said.
The inspector also recommended amendments to the plan's policy setting out a Strategic Land Allocation (SLA) site for a maximum of 2,500 homes as well as employment, services and other facilities in the south eastern part of Milton Keynes' urban area.
The inspector asked the Council to make amendments to the definition of the SLA, to its housing capacity and to its development principles.
"It is very gratifying that the Inspector largely passed the plan without too many major amendments," said the Council's Cabinet member for strategic planning David Hopkins according to local reports. "This gives us some welcome support for both where and how growth and development happens in Milton Keynes over the next 13 years."
The Council said that the plan would go to full Council on 10 July for adoption.
