The City of Milton Keynes is a unitary authority area with both borough and city status, in Buckinghamshire.[3] It is the northernmost district of the South East England Region. The borough abuts Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the remainder of Buckinghamshire.[a]
The principal built-up area in the borough is the Milton Keynes urban area, which accounts for about 20% of its area and 90% of its population. The borough also includes a large rural area lying to the north-east of the Milton Keynes urban area, containing several villages and the small town of Olney. The ONS's provisional return from the 2021 census reports that the population of the borough has reached approximately 287,000.[4]
History
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were all abolished at the same time:[5]
- Bletchley Urban District
- Newport Pagnell Urban District
- Newport Pagnell Rural District
- Winslow Rural District (part within the designated New Town area only, rest went to Aylesbury Vale)
- Wolverton Urban District
The new district was named Milton Keynes after the New Town which had been designated in 1967, which in turn took its name from the old village of Milton Keynes.[6] The district was given borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[7]
As established in 1974, the borough of Milton Keynes was one of five non-metropolitan districts of Buckinghamshire, with Buckinghamshire County Council providing county-level services to the area. On 1 April 1997, Milton Keynes became a self-governing unitary authority by being redefined as its own non-metropolitan county, independent from Buckinghamshire County Council (which was subsequently abolished in 2020).[8] Milton Keynes remains part of the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire for the purposes of lieutenancy.[9]
On 15 August 2022, letters patent were issued giving the borough the status of a city, allowing the council to change its name to Milton Keynes City Council.[3]
Local government
Arising from the local government elections of May 2021, the borough is governed by a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition administration. The Conservative Party is the main opposition group.
As of January 2023, political composition of the council is as follows.
| Affiliation | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Party | 23 | |
| Labour Party | 20 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 14 | |
The 2022 local election did not change the status of the council from 'no overall control'. No political party has had an 'overall majority' on the council since 2006.
Economy
According to data from the Office of National Statistics for 2017, the borough was the highest performing NUTS3 region in the UK outside inner London (which takes the first five places), on the basis of gross value added per head.[10]
Education
Further education in the borough is provided by Milton Keynes College. For higher education, the Open University's headquarters are in Milton Keynes – though, as this is a distance education institution, the only students resident on campus are approximately 200 full-time postgraduates. A campus of the University of Bedfordshire located in Central Milton Keynes, provides conventional undergraduate courses.
Cranfield University is the academic partner in project with Milton Keynes City Council to establish a new university, code-named "MK:U", on a reserved site in the city centre.[11] As of January 2022, the project is stalled pending assurance of government funding.[12]
Demographics
Population
At the 2011 census, the population of the borough was 248,821.[1] The ONS's provisional return from the 2021 census reports that the population of the borough has reached approximately 287,000.[4]
The borough's population age profile is slightly younger than England's average, with half of the borough's population aged under 35 years old.[13] The 30- to 39-year-olds in the borough formed as the largest 10-year age group of the population with 30- to 34-year-olds being the largest 5-year age group, 22.3% are aged under 16 and just 11.1% are aged over 65 compared.[13]
Levels of educational attainment in the borough are slightly higher than the England average. 18% have no qualifications compared with 22.5% in England, while 28.2% have a degree or higher qualification compared with 27.4% in England.[13]
Ethnicity
In the 2021 census, almost 71.8% of the population described their ethnic origin as white, 12.3% as Asian, 9.7% as black, 4% as mixed, and 2% as another ethnic group.[14]
| Ethnic Group | Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991[15] | 2001[16] | 2011[17] | 2021[14] | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | 166,101 | 94.2% | 187,852 | 90.7% | 199,094 | 80% | 206,114 | 71.8% |
| White: British | – | – | 179,694 | 86.8% | 183,934 | 73.9% | 178,568 | 62.2% |
| White: Irish | – | – | 2,918 | 2,498 | 2,382 | 0.8% | ||
| White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | 72 | 156 | 0.1% | |
| White: Roma | 578 | 0.2% | ||||||
| White: Other | – | – | 5,240 | 12,590 | 5.1% | 24,430 | 8.5% | |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | 5,982 | 3.4% | 9,406 | 4.5% | 22,782 | 9.2% | 35,645 | 12.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | 2,861 | 1.6% | 3,967 | 1.9% | 8,106 | 3.3% | 15,348 | 5.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | 822 | 0.5% | 1,682 | 0.8% | 3,851 | 1.5% | 7163 | 2.5% |
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | 694 | 0.4% | 1,072 | 0.5% | 1,989 | 0.8% | 3189 | 1.1% |
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | 667 | 0.4% | 1,835 | 0.9% | 2,722 | 1.1% | 2913 | 1.0% |
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | 938 | 0.5% | 850 | 0.4% | 6,114 | 2.5% | 7,032 | 2.4% |
| Black or Black British: Total | 2,869 | 1.6% | 4,986 | 2.4% | 17,131 | 6.9% | 27,851 | 9.7% |
| Black or Black British: African | 523 | 2,596 | 13,058 | 5.2% | 21,502 | 7.5% | ||
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | 1,665 | 1,956 | 2,524 | 2,975 | 1.0% | |||
| Black or Black British: Other Black | 681 | 434 | 1,549 | 3,374 | 1.2% | |||
| Mixed or British Mixed: Total | – | – | 3,716 | 1.8% | 8,235 | 3.3% | 11,725 | 4% |
| Mixed: White and Black Caribbean | – | – | 1,347 | 2,243 | 2,997 | 1.0% | ||
| Mixed: White and Black African | – | – | 477 | 1,597 | 2,551 | 0.9% | ||
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | 1,037 | 2,228 | 2,973 | 1.0% | ||
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | 855 | 2,167 | 3,204 | 1.1% | ||
| Other: Total | 1,378 | 0.8% | 1,097 | 0.5% | 1,579 | 0.6% | 5,725 | 2% |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | 565 | 1349 | 0.5% | |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | 1,378 | 0.8% | 1,097 | 0.5% | 1,014 | 0.4% | 4376 | 1.5% |
| Ethnic minority: Total | 10,229 | 5.8% | 19,205 | 9.3% | 49,727 | 20% | 80,946 | 28% |
| Total | 176,330 | 100% | 207,057 | 100% | 248,821 | 100% | 287,060 | 100% |
Religion
In the 2011 census, 62% of the population professed a religious belief. Christianity was the largest denomination, with 53% of the total.[13] At the 2021 census, again 62% professed a religious belief. Christianity remained the largest denomination but its share (of a greater population) fell to 43% of the total.[18]
| Religion | 2001[19] | 2011[20] | 2021[18] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Holds religious beliefs | 145,983 | 70.5 | 154,444 | 62.1 | 178,107 | 43.05 |
 Christian
|
135,715 | 65.5 | 131,352 | 52.8 | 122,935 | 42.8 |
 Buddhist
|
747 | 0.4 | 1,246 | 0.5 | 1,404 | 0.5 |
 Hindu
|
2,596 | 1.3 | 6,918 | 2.8 | 12,911 | 4.5 |
 Jewish
|
466 | 0.2 | 427 | 0.1 | 383 | 0.1 |
 Muslim
|
4,843 | 2.3 | 11,913 | 4.8 | 20,484 | 7.1 |
 Sikh
|
795 | 0.4 | 1,372 | 0.6 | 1,959 | 0.7 |
| Other religion | 821 | 0.4 | 1,216 | 0.5 | 1,558 | 0.5 |
| No religion and Religion not stated | 61,074 | 29.5 | 94,377 | 37.9 | 108,953 | 38.0 |
| Total population | 207,057 | 100.0 | 248,821 | 100.0 | 287,060 | 100.0 |
Housing and home ownership
In 2011, the borough had the greatest proportion of shared ownership homes in England, 6.1%, compared with second-placed London boroughs of Hounslow and Tower Hamlets with 2.4%. This form of home ownership has been a planning policy of the Council soon after the settled acceptance of all major UK lenders on specified forms of this type of property ownership was agreed in the 2000s decade.
The borough has relatively high home ownership at 72.8% of dwellings with the remaining 16.2% of homes are privately rented and 11.0% are socially rented.[21]
At the 2012, 16.2% of the population lived in flats (apartments), compared with the 22.1% average for England.[13]
Public health
According to Public Health England, "The health of people in Milton Keynes is generally similar to the England average. About 15.1% (8,680) children live in low income families. Life expectancy for both men and women is similar to the England average."[22]
Settlements
Milton Keynes (urban area)
The urban area accounts for about 20% of the borough by area and 90% by population. This is a partial list of the districts of the Milton Keynes urban area.
The City of Milton Keynes is fully parished. These are the parishes, and the districts they contain, that are now elements of the Milton Keynes built-up area as defined by the Office for National Statistics.[23][b] Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Woburn Sands, Central Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Wolverton and Stony Stratford are all towns.
- Abbey Hill: Kiln Farm, Two Mile Ash, Wymbush
- Bletchley and Fenny Stratford: Brickfields, Central Bletchley, Denbigh, Mount Farm, Fenny Lock, Granby, Fenny Stratford, Newton Leys, Water Eaton
- Bradwell: Bradville, Bradwell, Bradwell Abbey, Bradwell Common, Bradwell village, Heelands, Rooksley
- Broughton and Milton Keynes (the Village) – a shared parish council: Atterbury, Brook Furlong, Broughton, Fox Milne, Middleton, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Village, Northfield, Oakgrove, Pineham
- Campbell Park (civil parish): Fishermead, Newlands, Oldbrook, Springfield, Willen and Willen Lake, Winterhill, The Woolstones
- Central Milton Keynes: Central MK, Campbell Park
- Fairfields
- Great Linford: Bolbeck Park, Blakelands, Conniburrow, Downs Barn, Downhead Park, Giffard Park, Great Linford, Neath Hill, Pennyland, Redhouse, Tongwell, Willen Park
- Kents Hill, Monkston and Brinklow: Brinklow, Kents Hill, Kingston, Monkston
- Loughton and Great Holm: Loughton, Loughton Lodge, Great Holm, Elfield Park, the Bowl
- New Bradwell
- Newport Pagnell
- Shenley Brook End: Emerson Valley, Furzton, Kingsmead, Shenley Brook End, Shenley Lodge, Snelshall, Tattenhoe, Tattenhoe Park, Westcroft
- Shenley Church End: Crownhill, Grange Farm, Hazeley, Medbourne, Oakhill, Oxley Park, Shenley Church End, Woodhill
- Simpson and Ashland: Ashland, Simpson, West Ashland
- Stantonbury: Bancroft/Bancroft Park, Blue Bridge, Bradville, Linford Wood, Oakridge Park, Stantonbury, Stantonbury Fields
- Stony Stratford: Fullers Slade, Galley Hill, Stony Stratford
- Walton: Caldecotte, Old Farm Park, Tilbrook, Tower Gate, Walnut Tree, Walton, Walton Hall, Walton Park, Wavendon Gate
- Wavendon: Wavendon, Eagle Farm, Glebe Farm
- West Bletchley: Far Bletchley, Old Bletchley, West Bletchley.
- Whitehouse
- Woburn Sands
- Wolverton and Greenleys: Greenleys, Stacey Bushes, Stonebridge, Wolverton, Old Wolverton
- Woughton: Beanhill, Bleak Hall, Coffee Hall, Eaglestone, Leadenhall, Netherfield, Peartree Bridge, Redmoor, Tinkers Bridge (part)
- Old Woughton: Passmore (part of Tinkers Bridge), Woughton on the Green, Woughton Park.
Rest of the borough
The rural area accounts for about 80% of the borough by area and about 10% by population. Olney is a town. These are the extra-urban civil parishes:
- Astwood and Hardmead
- Bow Brickhill
- Caldecote, Calverton, Castlethorpe, Chicheley, Clifton Reynes, Cold Brayfield
- Emberton
- Filgrave
- Gayhurst
- Hanslope, Haversham-cum-Little Linford
- Lathbury, Lavendon, Little Brickhill, Long Street
- Moulsoe
- Newton Blossomville, North Crawley
- Olney
- Ravenstone
- Sherington, Stoke Goldington
- Tyringham
- Warrington, Weston Underwood
Freedom of the City
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the City (from 2022) or Freedom of the Borough (1982–2021).
Individuals
- Jock Campbell, Baron Campbell of Eskan: 18 March 1982.[24]
- James Marshall: 2009.[24]
- Dame Cleo Laine: 2011.[24]
- Peter Winkelman: 12 November 2015.[25][26]
- Leah Williamson: 28 February 2023.[27][28] (first recipient of the Freedom of the City)
Military Units
- The Royal Green Jackets: 1998.[24]
- The Rifles: 2007.[24] (confirmation)
- 678 (Rifles) Squadron 6 Regiment Army Air Corps: 11 March 2018.[29]
Organisations and businesses
- Red Bull Racing, 2014[24]
References
- ^ a b UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Milton Keynes Local Authority (E06000042)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ "Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, 2021". Office for National Statistics. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Population and household estimates, England and Wales: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. July 2022.
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 25 April 2023
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 25 April 2023
- ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Hansard 1803–2005. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ "The Buckinghamshire (Borough of Milton Keynes) (Structural Change) Order 1995". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
(2) A new county shall be constituted comprising the area of Milton Keynes and shall be named the county of Milton Keynes.
- ^ "Lieutenancies Act 1997", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1997 c. 23, retrieved 26 April 2023
- ^ Statistical bulletin: Regional gross value added (balanced), UK: 1998 to 2017 (table 7) (Report). Office of National Statistics. 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Project Two: MK:U A new University for Milton Keynes". MK2050 Futures Commission. October 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "Milton Keynes: New university project for 2023 delayed". BBC News. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Milton Keynes Local Authority (E06000042)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ Data is taken from United Kingdom Casweb Data services of the United Kingdom 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales (Table 6)
- ^ "Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Religion | Census 2021 | Dataset ID: TS030". Office for National Statistics. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ "KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ 2011 Census Key Statistics: Tenure. Office for National Statistics
- ^ "Local Authority Health Profile 2019: Milton Keynes". Public Health England. 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Milton Keynes Built-up area (E34005056)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 March 2019. (includes map of the built-up area).
- ^ a b c d e f David Tooley (15 May 2020). "Tories want key workers in Milton Keynes to be awarded freedom of the borough". Milton Keynes Citizen. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Football boss 'overwhelmed' by award". BBC News. 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Proud city centre military march to commemorate Freedom of the Borough - Milton Keynes Council". www.milton-keynes.gov.uk.
- ^ "Congratulations to MK's Leah Williamson and The Lionesses". Milton Keynes Council. 1 August 2022.
- ^ Sally Murrer (28 February 2023). "England captain Leah Williamson awarded Freedom of the City of Milton Keynes". Milton Keynes Citizen. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Rifles squadron rewarded for service with 'Freedom of Milton Keynes' honour". ITV News. 11 March 2018.
- ^ The remainder of Buckinghamshire is also a Unitary Authority and is controlled by Buckinghamshire Council.
- ^ This list excludes the civil parishes of Aspley Guise and Aspley Heath which, despite being in the contiguous built-up area, are in Central Bedfordshire and thus outside the City of Milton Keynes.
External links
- Milton Keynes Borough Council
- Map on the Milton Keynes Council's website showing civil parishes in the borough.
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