The construction of Milton started in the late 1940s as a part of a general post-war construction programme by the Glasgow Corporation to deal with housing shortages and slum clearance. The district is bordered to the south and east by Ashgill Road, dividing it from the older Parkhouse neighbourhood. It is also bordered by Liddesdale Road, which had previously connected Colston to Balmore Road. The new streets were named after the Scottish islands: Berneray, Birsay, Castlebay, Cathay, Egilsay, Longay, Mingulay, Ornsay, Raasay, Ronaldsay, Scalpay, Scaraway, Shilay Skerray, Stornoway, Torogay, Vallay and Westray.