The CMK Alliance is a steering group of business leaders and representatives of Milton Keynes Council and Central Milton Keynes Town Council.
Set up under the Localism Act, its brief is to create a “blueprint for prosperity” based on the views of businesses and residents on how the city centre should evolve.
The CMK Alliance Plan is the only scheme to cover a city centre and aims to promote further economic growth in the city centre and the wider Milton Keynes area.
Alliance chair Rebecca Kurth has called on businesses – owners, employees and management who want to help write the plan – to visit the alliance’s ‘wiki’ website and input their views and ideas.
She said: “We need to build a plan for the future of CMK that meets our community’s needs and aspirations. Our future prosperity is not guaranteed – we must actively work together to achieve it.”
A dedicated CMK Alliance Business Forum has also been set up, from which the eight business representatives to the 16 strong steering group were elected. It is open to all businesses based in Central Milton Keynes and aims to create a strong and united business voice.
The wiki plan is a ‘living’ document available on line 24 hours a day until the end of May.
Milton Keynes City centre manager Kay Greenhalgh said: “It is hoped the plan will therefore be written ‘by the people, for the people, in their place’ – a new and different way of planning made possible through the Localism Act but one that requires your involvement to succeed.”
The CMK Alliance plans to have its plan finalised by October.Ms Greenhalgh said: “It is crucial that as many businesses engage in this process as possible.”
The Alliance has already sent its first newsletter to around 1,000 city centre businesses and is holding a series of workshops until May 23.
