Milton Keynes Conservatives are calling for an urgent independent review into the spiralling cost of the Labour-run Council’s latest capital project—the conversion of Linford Wood Place (Avalon House) into a new Integrated Adult Care Hub.
The project has grown by millions and more than doubled in cost from its initial cost just two years ago. The Council now wants to borrow over £8 million more to deliver the project in advance of the receipt from the sale of property and anticipated Tariff income. This additional funding will come from temporary borrowing, unconfirmed developer contributions, and anticipated tariff income that has not yet materialised.
The Conservative group says residents deserve answers on how this Labour administration allowed such massive financial oversight to happen yet again.
Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the Conservative Group, said:
“We fully support the creation of this much-needed care hub, but residents rightly expect their money to be managed carefully and properly. Borrowing more than £8 million before we’ve even received the developer contributions or tariff funding is a huge financial gamble. It’s irresponsible — and sadly, it’s not the first time under this Labour Council. We can’t keep borrowing our way out of poorly planned projects”
To plug the gap, the Council is relying on disposing of property, which is not yet guaranteed, and future tariff funding, which is also not confirmed. The Councillors also raise that the business case even assumes those tariff receipts will cover the interest on borrowing, adding another layer of risk.
Conservative Councillors say this isn’t just about financial oversight. They are concerned that poor planning at the outset of major projects risks triggering a wider knock-on effect across the city’s infrastructure programme. If budgets continue to balloon and funding is committed prematurely, other essential projects could be delayed, scaled back, or even scrapped, leaving residents worse off. They believe that sound financial planning from the beginning is critical to avoid a domino effect that threatens the city’s wider infrastructure delivery, and ultimately, it’s taxpayers and communities who foot the bill.
The Conservative Group has called for further scrutiny of the decision. At this evening’s meeting, they will be demanding a formal, independent review by a qualified RICS surveyor to understand how the original costings could have been so far off the mark, why the figures have escalated so drastically in less than two years, and what safeguards must be put in place to prevent this from happening again.
“This is about protecting public finances, stopping reckless overspends and holding the Labour council to account on how they manage major projects. When costs spiral like this, it’s not the Council that pays. It’s us – the taxpayer. We deserve transparency, solid project planning, and financial responsibility. Right now, we’re seeing the opposite,” Cllr Muzammil added.
