Press release

Walton High reaches final of national competition to design a community of the future

A team of Year 9 and 10 students from Walton High in Milton Keynes has reached the national final of the ‘Developing Sustainable Communities’ competition and will be going to the Royal Institute of British Architects in London on 10 February to make a presentation to a panel of four judges.

To help them prepare for the competition, which required the students to design a new community of up to 20,000 people, the school called in expert advice from planners, surveyors and engineers at Milton Keynes Partnership (MKP).  

Elizabeth Beale, a Year 9 Walton High student, said: “We are all so excited to get the chance to go down to London for the finals. We have worked hard to achieve what we have done so far but we know we can do even better for the final. It will be a great opportunity and we can’t wait to present to the judges. Fingers crossed that we will win!” 

MKP arranged for the students to visit Oxley Park, a sustainable community and one of the newer grid squares in the west of Milton Keynes. They went to Taylor Wimpey’s development at Oxley Woods to learn about the eco-friendly features of the award-winning homes. MKP staff then gave them a guided tour of Oxley Park to show them features of new communities including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, local services and facilities, open space and mixed housing.   

At Walton High the MKP team gave a presentation about how to masterplan a sustainable community and also participated in the students’ workshop sessions where five teams focused on transport, environmental impact, community and leisure facilities, planning and housing.  

In December the Walton High students visited the MKP team to give them a preview of their ideas. The presentation and the question and answer session that followed were filmed so that they could be included as part of their competition entry.  

Jennie Cook, Planner with MKP’s Development Control team, said: “We were really impressed with some of the ideas the Walton High students had for their new community. They deserve to do very well in the final of the Designing Sustainable Communities competition and we wish them the best of luck.”    

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact: Helen Carvalho or Nadir Farrell, Milton Keynes Partnership press office on 01908 353981 or 353913 helen.carvalho@hca.gsx.gov.uk nadir.farrell@hca.gsx.gov.uk  

Milton Keynes Partnership created in June 2004 is responsible for growth, development and investment in the new city.  It is a committee of the Homes and Communities Agency, the newly formed housing and regeneration agency for England, and brings together Milton Keynes Council, Local Strategic Partnership representatives from the health, community and business sectors and independent representation.  

‘Designing Sustainable Communities’ was devised by Enterprise Lowestoft, an organisation set up by a group of ex-teachers to assist schools through enterprise. In 2008, Enterprise Lowestoft approached Arup, the global firm of designers, engineers, planners and business consultants, to create the schools resource pack and supply other expertise to support the competition on a pro bono basis.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) subsequently agreed to sponsor the competition, which is also supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).