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In the 30 years since Milton Keynes began its quest to build the ideal new city, some of the many estates have blossomed and some have even begun to wilt.

But now plans for an ultra-futuristic housing estate are underway which aim to raise the standard of housing everywhere.

Since Milton Keynes was designated a new city back in 1967, the community has boomed and seen unparalleled development. This has made it one of the fastest developing urban areas in the country and the trend for high population growth looks set to continue.

Plans are now underway to redevelop 65 hectares of open fields, landscaped areas and a network of roads, footpaths and cycleways on the outskirts of the current city centre.

However, instead of an estate similar to the many that have sprouted up throughout the new city, this new development will significantly raise the level of technology available to homeowners.

Interactive
The Oakgrove Millennium Community is a rather unique approach to home building, the new estate hopes to provide 1,850 homes all with amazing levels of interactive technology.

The decision has been taken to make everyone of the proposed dwellings fully ITC capable, a unique approach in UK house building as this will be the first project in Britain to fully incorporate computer technology with every home built.

Bill Guile, the Community Architect explained the idea:

"Broadband is now widespread in this country but with Oakgrove we want to push the use of computer technology to the next level. This will mean the possibility of homeowners being able to monitor their entire house from their mobile phone, PDA or office PC."

Unique
While other countries such as Sweden have attempted to provide small communities with their own accessible computer services, this is the first time that such a large development has tried to incorporate such a high level technology for every household.

Bill can even envisage a time where monitoring your home can be done from any computer in the world:

"ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½owners will be able to log on and check the CCTV cameras near their house, even setting the heating and drawing the curtains before they leave the office."

But with such high tech developments comes the problems of making sure the community feel in control of the technology available to them.

"These homes are not being designed just for people who are computer literate" continues Bill.

"We also want to encourage people with no IT skills to benefit from this futuristic technology."

Community
While new schools are also part of the Oakgrove plans, they will also be used as community learning facilities, teaching people how they can best utilise their homes.

The development will also aim to be 'tenure blind' meaning that it should be difficult to spot the difference between social affordable property and those sold to private buyers.

While the standard of IT kit available to each home will be decided before purchasing, both affordable and private houses will be entitled to the same level of technology.

But how will the people of Milton Keynes react to this innovative approach to house building?

Artist impression of the combined school

Ben Ruston is the Regeneration Manager for English Partnerships who are providing the land for this development and has been involved in the public consultation exercise:

"There is a mixed reaction to the project so far, some people are sceptical about the need for such a high level of technology. While others who can appreciate the full concept are already queuing to jump on board."

Sustainable
As part of the Deputy Prime Minister's seven millennium communities, the Oakgrove development must also aim to provide a new model for sustainable and environmentally responsible communities across the UK.

Ben continues:

"The idea is to build a model community which will attempt to excel and heighten all aspect of the construction industry.

"We want to develop something which will be a shining beacon for housing, setting an example of new standards for builders and also land owners alike."

While the whole project is still in the consultation stage, both English Partnerships and Milton Keynes council are keen to see the plans go ahead.

The first signs of development are expected in October 2005 with the first properties being completed in early spring 2006.

But in order to make the entire development as future proof as possible the developers will not expect to be fully complete until 2016.

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B. Sells, Milton Keynes	Saturday, 28-Aug-2004 15:42:34 BST
Once again EP are giving only half the story! There are huge objections to this development from local residents for countless reasons. The site will be VERY high density (far more properties than originally planned are being quashed onto this small area) and upto six storeys high. Natural light will be a luxury anywhere on this estate!!! There is insufficient parking facilities and very little green space. The grid road (V10) will be turned into a slow and narrow high street, even though it is a major route in the town, five minutes from the town centre shops and very close to the M1. I have not managed to find one person, who has actually looked at the plans, who in any way believes this project will be anything other than an ugly and expensive disaster.

Steve K, Milton Keynes	Friday, 06-Aug-2004 14:05:25 BST
Is this merely a PR smokescreen to deflect attention away from the fact that they are planning to put double the number of people in the area compared to what was originally planned? And are a few computer cables really going to 'transform' the area into a 'millenium community'?? They'll still be building boring 'mock tudor/victorian/ Edwardian brick houses with no windows or light coming through them (why else does everyone in England feel the need to add on conservatories??). If it's going to be anything like the overcrowded eyesores being put up in Monkston Park at the moment where it seems a tenant in one block of flats could literally shake hands with their neighbour 'opposite' (on top of?) them..(maybe that's what they meant by 'community'). What happened to the Grand Vision of Milton Keynes that was the original inspiration - where are the solar and wind powered vi! llages, where's the glass, steel and concrete visionary housing for 'modern people' to live in?? Where's the organic waste disposal systems? There's lots of clever people in Milton Keynes - couldn;t the council or English Partnerships get together with some nice clever blokes at say, the Open University, literally a 100 yards down the road, to run this project as an independent arbiter (rather than a govt. agency forced by the govt. to force 70,000 Londoners to commute from MK (even though there'll be no morning Virgin trains anymore). They may be more likely to come up with something other than the uninspired rubbish that British people are forced to live in they may even do some market research to find out what 'customers' want!! - I heard an MD of a major housebuilder say that the British choose to live in mock-whatever - but that's because we are forced to because there are no alternatives!!! Every other industry has moved on - not everbody drives a red Mondeo - there's a huge choice of cars out there, but the housing industry is stuck in the 1910's and sources its inspiration from the 17th and 18th centuries! ...does nobody watch 'Grand Designs'?

Christine Clavey, Luton	Friday, 06-Aug-2004 08:22:57 BST
I work in a Milton Keynes school, lovely building, shame about the lack of natural light. Is the proposed school in Oakgrove going to be the same, i.e. innovative design, keeps the heat, but little natural light?

Mike, Milton Keynes	Thursday, 05-Aug-2004 22:41:12 BST
Very interesting - English Partnerships and Milton Keynes Council would do well to get the present infrastructure up to 1st World standard - the town should have CITY status, another hospital, more Doctors and NHS Dentists. At present the place is covered in graffiti, rubbish and is very badly run down in many areas. Before trying to build "space age technology", the planners of Milton Keynes would do well to remember that we have only just got over the square wheel!