The City of Milton Keynes is a borough in Buckinghamshire, England. The borough was created in 1974 and is named after its main settlement, Milton Keynes, which had been designated as a new town seven years earlier in 1967. It is the northernmost district of the South East England Region. The borough abuts Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the remainder of Buckinghamshire. The borough was awarded city status in 2022. It is administered by Milton Keynes City Council, which has been a unitary authority since 1997.
City of Milton Keynes | |
|---|---|
| Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): By knowledge, design and understanding | |
City of Milton Keynes, shown within Buckinghamshire and England | |
Interactive map of City of Milton Keynes | |
| Coordinates: 52°02′N 0°46′W / 52.03°N 0.77°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South East |
| Ceremonial county | Buckinghamshire |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Governing body | Milton Keynes City Council |
| • MPs | Chris Curtis (Lab) (Milton Keynes North) Emily Darlington (Lab) (Milton Keynes Central) Callum Anderson (Lab) Buckingham and Bletchley |
| Area | |
• Total | 309 km2 (119 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 305,884 |
| • Rank | 50th |
| • Density | 991/km2 (2,570/sq mi) |
| Postcode | |
| Area code | 01908 |
| ISO 3166 code | GB-MIK |
| GSS code | E06000042 |
| Website | milton-keynes |
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 many rural areas surrounding the Milton Keynes urban area, especially to the north, containing several villages and the town of Olney. At the 2021 census, the population of the borough was just over 287,000.
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:
- 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, covering a large area in the south of the new district. The district was given borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.
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. Milton Keynes remains part of the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire for the purposes of lieutenancy.
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.
Local government
Arising from the local government elections of May 2024, the borough is governed by a Labour administration. The Liberal Democrat party is the main opposition group.
In the 2024 election Labour gained 4 seats to become the majority party, having previously been part of a joint Labour-Lib-Dem run administration.
The borough is fully parished, with over 50 parishes.
Economy
According to data from the Office for 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.
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. As of January 2022[update], the project is stalled pending assurance of government funding.
Demographics
Population
At the 2021 census, the population of the borough was 287,060. This was an increase of 15.3% from the 2011 census, when the population of the borough was 248,821. By 2050, the City Council projects that the borough's population will reach 410,000.
Education
At the 2021 census, of residents aged 16 and over, 15.8% had no qualifications, 10.9% had a level 1 qualification, 14.2% had level 2, 4.7% were in apprenticeship, 15.7% had level 3, 35.8% had level 4 and 2.9% had other qualifications.
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.
| Ethnic Group | Year | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 estimations | 1991 census | 2001 census | 2011 census | 2021 census | ||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | 119,876 | 95.6% | 168,679 | 94.1% | 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 | 3,073 | 6,127 | 9,406 | 4.5% | 22,782 | 9.2% | 35,645 | 12.3% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | 1,560 | 2,940 | 3,967 | 1.9% | 8,106 | 3.3% | 15,348 | 5.3% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | 398 | 842 | 1,682 | 0.8% | 3,851 | 1.5% | 7,163 | 2.5% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | 388 | 717 | 1,072 | 0.5% | 1,989 | 0.8% | 3,189 | 1.1% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | 325 | 688 | 1,835 | 0.9% | 2,722 | 1.1% | 2,913 | 1.0% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | 402 | 940 | 850 | 0.4% | 6,114 | 2.5% | 7,032 | 2.4% | ||
| Black or Black British: Total | 1,722 | 2,972 | 4,986 | 2.4% | 17,131 | 6.9% | 27,851 | 9.7% | ||
| Black or Black British: African | 289 | 548 | 2,596 | 13,058 | 5.2% | 21,502 | 7.5% | |||
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | 1,017 | 1,716 | 1,956 | 2,524 | 2,975 | 1.0% | ||||
| Black or Black British: Other Black | 416 | 708 | 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 | 765 | 1,417 | 1,097 | 0.5% | 1,579 | 0.6% | 5,725 | 2% | ||
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | 565 | 1349 | 0.5% | |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | 765 | 1,417 | 1,097 | 0.5% | 1,014 | 0.4% | 4376 | 1.5% | ||
| Ethnic minority: Total | 5,561 | 4.4% | 10,521 | 5.9% | 19,205 | 9.3% | 49,727 | 20% | 80,946 | 28% |
| Total | 125,437 | 100% | 179,200 | 100% | 207,057 | 100% | 248,821 | 100% | 287,060 | 100% |
Religion
The following table shows the religion of respondents in recent censuses in the city of Milton Keynes.
| Religion | 2001 Census | 2011 Census | 2021 Census | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Christian | 135,715 | 65.54 | 131,352 | 52.79 | 122,935 | 42.83 |
| Muslim | 4,843 | 2.34 | 11,913 | 4.79 | 20,484 | 7.14 |
| Hindu | 2,596 | 1.25 | 6,918 | 2.78 | 12,911 | 4.50 |
| Sikh | 795 | 0.38 | 1,372 | 0.55 | 1,959 | 0.68 |
| Buddhist | 747 | 0.36 | 1,246 | 0.50 | 1,404 | 0.49 |
| Jewish | 466 | 0.23 | 427 | 0.17 | 383 | 0.13 |
| Other religion | 821 | 0.40 | 1,216 | 0.49 | 1,558 | 0.54 |
| No religion | 44,633 | 21.56 | 77,939 | 31.32 | 108,953 | 37.95 |
| Religion not stated | 16,441 | 7.94 | 16,438 | 6.61 | 16,473 | 5.74 |
| Total | 207,057 | 100.00% | 248,821 | 100.00% | 287,060 | 100.00% |
Housing and home ownership
Household tenure breaks down to 60.8% of dwellings owner-occupied, 21% of homes privately rented and 18% are socially rented. Due to the borough's fast-growing population, the City Council plans for a minimum of 26,500 dwellings across the borough over the period between 2016 and 2031, with development primarily focused on city estates, expansion areas and strategic land locations in the south and east of Milton Keynes, Campbell Park (in CMK) and the three "Key Settlements" outside of the 1967 "designated development area" of Milton Keynes: Newport Pagnell, Woburn Sands and Olney.
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."
Settlements
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.
- 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 – Atterbury, Brook Furlong, Broughton, Fox Milne, Middleton (includes 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.
Bletchley, Central Milton Keynes, Fenny Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Stony Stratford, Woburn Sands and Wolverton are towns.
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
Neighbourhood Plans
As of December 2023[update], the borough has 28 designated Neighbourhood Areas, of which 22 have made/adopted Neighbourhood Development Plans approved by the City Council, spanning both urban and rural parishes.
Heritage assets
As of 2025[update] the National Heritage List for England includes 1,166 entries for heritage assets in the City of Milton Keynes. These comprise 1,111 listed buildings, of which 30 are at Grade I, 59 Grade II*, and 1,022 Grade II; 5 parks and gardens, of which 3 are grade II* and 2 Grade II; 49 Scheduled monuments; and 1 certificate of immunity from listing, for The Point.
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.
- James Marshall: 2009.
- Dame Cleo Laine: 2011.
- Peter Winkelman: 12 November 2015.
- Leah Williamson: 28 February 2023. (first recipient of the Freedom of the City rather than the Borough)
- Dean Lewington: 10 May 2025
Military Units
- The Royal Green Jackets: 1998.
- The Rifles: 2007. (confirmation)
- 678 (Rifles) Squadron 6 Regiment Army Air Corps: 11 March 2018.
Organisations and businesses
- Red Bull Racing, 2014
Notes
- The remainder of Buckinghamshire is controlled by Buckinghamshire Council, which is also a Unitary Authority
- 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.
- So Milton Keynes (the village) is in Middleton (the grid square), which is in Milton Keynes (the civil parish), which is one of a number in Milton Keynes (the city), which in turn is in the City of Milton Keynes unitary authority district.
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