Six top housebuilders have been shortlisted to build the 1850 homes that will make up the Millennium Community project at Oak Grove, Milton Keynes.
The shortlist includes Countryside Properties and Taylor Woodrow, the firms behind the Greenwich Millennium Village, who are to meet here as competitors.

The other four are Crest Nicholson, Persimmon, Wilson Bowden and Berkeley Homes.

Seventeen of the 23 submissions came from the top 20 housebuilders. Details of the full bidding teams were not available as Building went to press, but HTA Architects is understood to be part of the Berkeley team.

The Millennium Communities programme has enjoyed mixed fortunes since its inception in 1997. The first four sites were Greenwich in London, Allerton Bywater near Leeds, New Islington in Manchester and Nar Ouse in King's Lynn.

In July 2002, deputy prime minister John Prescott announced three more sites: East Ketley near Telford, Hastings, and the 64 ha brownfield site in Oak Grove.

Despite some opposition to the doubling of housing densities at Greenwich Millennium Village, seen as the flagship of the scheme, it has gained support for its sustainable developments and mix of affordable and market homes.