Representatives from Berkeley Group, NatureSpace Partnership, Newt Conservation Partnership and Milton Keynes City Council recently visited Great Linford Nature Reserve to see first-hand how a partnership approach taken at Eastbrook Village is enabling nature to thrive whilst also enabling the quick delivery of new homes and infrastructure.
Eastbrook Village is one of the region ’s largest strategic developments, delivering up to 4,600 new homes, significant new infrastructure and 99 hectares of green open space and wetland habitats including ponds within a landscape important for great crested newts – one of the UK ’s most protected amphibians. Great crested newts depend on high-quality freshwater ponds and surrounding habitats, but their populations have declined over the past 70 years due to habitat loss. Their sensitivity to pollution and development makes them an important consideration in planning, requiring targeted measures to support their recovery.
As part of the District Licensing Scheme, Berkeley Group has provided funding to NatureSpace, supporting conservation work to protect and enhance great crested newt populations across the region. The investment has helped create, restore and enhance 45 ponds and 137 hectares of habitat in Milton Keynes, benefitting a wide range of wildlife. Working in partnership with Milton Keynes City Council through the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme, this approach delivers strategic conservation at scale while enabling the development to progress without delay. It demonstrates how environmental priorities can be addressed alongside the delivery of much-needed homes and infrastructure, supporting both local nature recovery and sustainable growth.
Eastbrook Village will deliver thousands of new homes alongside a comprehensive package of supporting infrastructure, creating a well-connected sustainable place for new and existing communities. Berkeley Group has been involved in the site for over 15 years, investing significantly in planning, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.
Key elements of the development include:
- Up to 4,600 new homes
- 99 hectares of green space, including a new linear park, wetlands, ponds, grasslands, and meadows designed to benefit both people and wildlife
- A new M1 bridge and strategic improvements to the A509
- New health and community hubs
- Three primary schools and a secondary school
A long-term habitat management plan will guarantee the delivery of local and lasting ecological value.
Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning at Milton Keynes City Council, said:
“We’re committed to ensuring that Milton Keynes continues to grow in a way that benefits both our residents and the natural environment. This development shows how we can deliver much-needed new homes and infrastructure while enhancing biodiversity and protecting important species like the great crested newt. By working in partnership, we’re creating more sustainable, healthier places where wildlife can thrive alongside our communities – now and for future generations.”
Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director at Berkeley Group, said:
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Milton Keynes City Council and NatureSpace to support nature recovery. This licensing scheme means high-quality wetland habitats are being created in the right places across the region to support newt populations, while enabling new homes to be built without long delays. It represents a strategic and pragmatic approach to conservation that could be used more widely.
As well as funding these fantastic off-site projects, our masterplan at Eastbrook Village will create a new 99-hectare Country Park for Milton Keynes, including wetlands, ponds, grasslands, meadows and traditional parkland. This varied landscape will enhance biodiversity and provide a valuable green open space for the local community to enjoy.”
Tom Tew, CEO at NatureSpace Partnership, said:
“It’s great to have Berkeley join the scheme, which is making a real difference at Great Linford Nature Reserve. It’s a clear example of how wildlife protection and development can go hand in hand – it’s not either/or. District Licensing provides developers with certainty, speed and legal clarity, while creating high-quality habitat locally and in advance. It’s a model that works for nature, supports development and benefits local communities.”
Pascale Nicolet, CEO at Newt Conservation Partnership, said:
“Through Berkeley’s contribution to the NatureSpace scheme, we have been able to create and manage high-quality ponds and terrestrial habitats that will benefit great crested newts and other freshwater wildlife for decades to come. What makes this approach particularly powerful is that it delivers measurable, long-term ecological gains at a landscape scale while being funded entirely through developer contributions. It is a practical example of how sustainable development can directly support nature recovery and leave a lasting legacy for wildlife in Milton Keynes.”