Residents of Milton Keynes are up in arms over the projected development of 63,000 new houses within and around the city.

These are set to be completed by 2050, causing the size of the city to grow by over half, as reported in the Mail Online.

Milton Keynes, sat in north Buckinghamshire just 50 miles northwest of London, was established in the 1960s to combat housing congestion in the capital.

Its creation represents one of the most notable examples of town planning in UK history.

However, the new development raises concerns as only 15,500 of the new homes are to be added to the city, with the rest—between 3,500 and 12,500—targeted at the surrounding "new town", including villages near Castlethorpe, Hanslope, and Haversham.

MP for Milton Keynes North, Conservative's Ben Everitt, voiced his opposition against the Labour-Liberal Democrat council's plans, particularly criticising the announcement by Labour leader Keir Starmer to build Georgian-style townhouses in urban areas and expand green belt land development.

Everitt pledged his commitment to 'fighting' against these "reckless plans".

Mr Everitt said to MKCitizen: "I will do everything in my power to fight for the people of Milton Keynes North and our beautiful villages to protect them against MK Labour and Keir Starmer's reckless plans."

He continued by pointing out Labour's past handling of development projects: "You only have to look at the shambolic handling of Labour's MK East development with all the traffic chaos caused in Newport Pagnell to know the Labour council should be nowhere near plans like these.

"Our villages are a vital part of the heritage and history of Milton Keynes and swamping them with a huge new town of around 12,000 houses is simply unacceptable."

City Council's Councillor Peter Marland defended the project, expressing its ambition but also its necessity in meeting housing demands set by the government.

According to Cllr Marland, the mass construction, spread across a considerable period, will maintain Milton Keynes' unique identity, preserving green spaces, infrastructure, and public facilities.

Cllr Peter Marland said: "The 63,000 homes in the next local plan, which runs to 2050, is ambitious but based on the requirements from government to meet our housing needs.

"The important thing isn't just about the overall number for the next 26 years, but making sure that Milton Keynes retains what makes the city unique, green spaces, good infrastructure, and proper access to schools and medical facilities.

"We are a council that wants to give people the chance to be on the housing ladder and own their own home."

As the city moves forward with plans of such magnitude, local opposition warns of the loss of countryside and community values.

These concerns lie at the heart of the battle that seems poised to shape the future of Milton Keynes and its surrounding rural area.