More than 100 council tenants have so far moved into brand-new homes on the Lakes Estate in Bletchley as part of Milton Keynes City Council’s regeneration programme.
Local residents and members of the Lakes Estate Renewal Forum (LERF) joined councillors and the project team for a handover ceremony that took place at Melfort Drive, which part of an area where tenants have started settling into their new homes.
The first phase of the regeneration project will deliver around 200 new homes, along with community and local amenity spaces along with an improved park. Construction began last year led by GRAHAM and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.
MK City Council describes the new homes that form part of the development as modern, energy-efficient and designed to give local families high-quality housing where they can build a better future.
The Lakes Estate regeneration has been shaped by years of collaboration with the local community, who played a central role in designing the plans, which were approved in 2022. The project is funded by the city council with almost £70 million of investment and supported by a grant of just under £15 million from Homes England.
Cllr Ed Hume, Cabinet Member for Housing, said, “Moving into a new home can be life-changing. These properties aren’t just bricks and mortar, they’re a fresh start for families, giving them the space, comfort and security to build a brighter future. We’re proud to have worked with the community to make this happen.”
Pat O’Hare, Regional Director at GRAHAM, added, “We’re delighted to see so many families settling into their new homes. This handover marks real progress in the regeneration of the Lakes Estate, creating modern, energy-efficient spaces that will improve quality of life. It’s a privilege to work with the community and partners to help shape a brighter future for local residents.”
Brackley Town’s run in the FA Cup is over after a 3-1 defeat at home by League One side Burton Albion.
A hat-trick by Tyrese Shade decided the contest in favour of the third-tier side, who advance to the FA Cup Third Round.
Michael Nottingham had equalised for the Saints, but two goals in the final 20 minutes of the 90 by Shade saw the Brewers knock out the National League hosts, who miss out on the chance to reach the Third Round for the first time in their history.
Under the lights at St James Park, the Brackley fans had arrived hoping to make history with a first trip to the Third Round. The Northamptonshire club had already pulled off one upset with victory over League Two side Notts County in the First Round, and in the final tie of the Second Round, they arrived hoping to pull off another scalp against EFL opposition. They were also chasing a tonic, having lost their last 5 National League games in a row.
Brackley’s ground also played host to the draw, which was held live on TNT Sport with former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, and with a draw that would see the winners of the tie make the trip to play the Saints’ fellow National League side Boreham Wood in the round in mid-January. It would’ve made for another contest between the Saints and Boreham Wood, with the two sides taking one another on in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
Matt Lowe had an early header comfortably held by Burton keeper Brad Collins, before the visitors began to push, with Julian Larsson scuffing a strike wide.
The League One side took the lead after 13 minutes, with Shade the scorer. The Burton man received a pass by Toby Sibbick, got space for a shot and drilled a strike through a crowd that went under Jonny Maxted in the Brackley goal to find the back of the net.
Brackley would respond with an equaliser 12 minutes later. Alex Hartridge’s corner was headed back across goal by Kyle Morrison and experienced defender Nottingham got the header to beat Collins and make it 1-1.
Burton pressed after the break, with Jack Armer denied by Maxted before the visitors had a penalty appeal for handball turned down.
Maxted made another save to deny Kegs Chauke, while Brackley’s best chance saw Lowe miss the target from Jack Price’s free-kick.
The game’s third goal came for Burton with 17 minutes of the 90 to go. Brackley attempted a throw-in routine that went wrong, and Jake Beesley’s ball released Shade, who was onside. The scorer of Burton’s opener duly charged forward, beat Maxted in the one-on-one and put the away side back in front.
The game opened up after that, with Morgan Roberts seeing a strike crash wide before Maxted made another stop to keep out Burton’s Kyran Lofthouse.
But Shade would have the last word, with the striker completing his hat-trick as he received Beesley’s pass and drilled home the strike that made it 3-1 and ended Brackley’s hopes of that historic first progress to Round 3.
Red Bull Racing have confirmed the departure of the team’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko.
The 82-year-old Austrian will leave his contract one year early in a move that ends involvement with Red Bull’s F1 operations since the team first entered F1 in 2005, with Red Bull confirming that Marko will depart at the end of 2025.
The move brings to an end an association that has seen Marko involved every step of the way for Red Bull’s time in F1, in a time that has seen the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull Racing team win 6 Constructor’s Championships and 8 Driver’s Championship titles, with the two Red Bull-owned teams combined achieving 132 wins.
Marko had previously been a close confidant of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, with his work seeing him have control over direction of the two Red Bull teams and manage Red Bull’s junior driver programme. The Red Bull academy scheme has seen 20 drivers reach F1, including Red Bull’s 4-time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, as well as current F1 stars like Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly.
The move continues a recent exodus of several high-ranking members of Red Bull’s team since the start of 2024. Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner left in July, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley left to join Sauber as Team Principal, Chief Technical Officer and celebrated car designer Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin in 2024, and Chief Engineering Officer Rob Marshall has joined McLaren, while Head of Strategy Will Courtenay is set to join McLaren in 2026 after agreeing a move to leave Red Bull.
In a statement, Dr Marko thanked Red Bull for enabling him to work with the team in their time together.
He said, “I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey. It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.
“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter. I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.“
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull GMBH added, “Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era.
“Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport.
“After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I gained the impression that the timing felt right for him to take this step. Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it.
“Helmut Marko will be deeply missed, both personally and professionally. We wish him all the very best for the future and hope that he will remain closely and warmly connected to the team.”
Reports by sources including the BBC and The Race have claimed Marko has chosen to leave Red Bull due to a lack of control in the team’s new structure after both the death of Mateschitz in 2022 and the exit of Horner after his dismissal earlier in 2025, although no comment about these suggestions has been made publicly.
MK Dons defender Jack Sanders has been handed a 3 game ban by the FA for violent conduct.
The 26-year-old was handed the sanction after an incident in the Dons’ FA Cup tie with Oldham Athletic on Saturday, in which the Dons won 3-1 to progress to Round 3 of the competition. The incident was identified by the FA as taking place in the 42nd minute, around the time of MK Dons’ opening goal.
In a statement, the FA said Sanders had denied the charge against him but after it was proven against him, the suspension was imposed with immediate effect.
The FA statement said, “An independent Regulatory Commission has suspended Jack Sanders following Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic.
“An incident around the 42nd minute wasn’t seen by the match officials at the time, but was caught on video, and was subsequently alleged to constitute violent conduct.
“Sanders denied the charge against him, but the Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and has imposed a three-match suspension following a hearing.”
The suspension begins with immediate effect, starting with the Dons’ match against Notts County tonight (09/12). Sanders will also sit out the Dons’ matches against Cambridge United and Harrogate Town, before returning to selection for the Boxing Day match against Swindon Town.
Milton Keynes City Council are highlighting several services intended to help to keep people safe, independent and at home this winter.
The publication of the initiatives come in the midst of a major wave of flu cases in the UK this winter, with NHS data revealing that 50% more patients are currently in hospital with flu than this time last year.
Milton Keynes City Council have discussed services. This includes their Occupational Therapists, who have helped more than 3,000 residents in the past year, recommending over 600 major home adaptations such as easy-access showers and stairlifts, and providing more than 5,000 pieces of equipment like hoists and grab rails.
Changes such as these are intended to make daily living easier and reduce the risk of falls and injuries that could lead to hospital visits.
The Community Alarm gives round-the-clock reassurance to vulnerable residents. This service provides personal alarms and sensors to more than 3,500 residents, giving peace of mind to them and their families. So far this year, the team has answered more than 120,000 calls and assisted around 1,800 people who had fallen, potentially avoiding hundreds of emergency hospital admissions.
The Milton Keynes Integrated Discharge Hub brings together teams from Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes City Council and Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust, combining expertise to ensure patients who are medically fit can leave hospital promptly and safely. The hub coordinates support such as home adaptations, care packages, and community services, helping people return home sooner and reducing unnecessary stays in hospital.
Meanwhile, the city council’s Public Health and Family Centre teams are promoting winter wellness through initiatives that encourage flu and COVID vaccinations for vulnerable residents, healthy living through the local Choose You service, and early intervention to prevent illness such as the ongoing project to provide free oral care products to children – nationally, tooth decay remains the main cause of hospital admission among children aged 5 to 9.
Councillor Donna Fuller, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Communities, said, “NHS England say as many as one in five emergency admissions to hospital may have been avoidable with the right care in place. Our teams are dedicated to giving care and to helping residents remain independent and safe in their own homes. By providing practical support and rapid response services, we’re minimising avoidable hospital admissions and ensuring people get the help they need before problems escalate.”
Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at Milton Keynes University Hospital, added, “Partnership between our trust and Milton Keynes City Council makes a real difference to how the hospital manages through winter pressures and ensures that local people get the care they need in the right setting. What is more, our joint efforts help to ensure that hospital beds are available for those who most need them.”
