Projects

MK Gateway

Size
185,000 sq ft Grade A workspace and co-work provision + 250 Build-to-Rent apartments

Client
Socius

Location
Saxon Court, Central Milton Keynes

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Mixed-use development evangelists Socius really get the knowledge economy. They know that cities like Cambridge, Oxford and Milton Keynes are powered by the collaboration of the people living and working there and their shared quest for knowledge and discovery.

Milton Keynes was high on Socius' city hit list. With a new digital skills university, MK:U, on the way and banking giant Santander’s £150m HQ under construction, they had their eye on a nearby site.

We helped Socius get under the skin of the digital city before they embarked on their bid for the Saxon Court site. Our advice on the type of tech occupiers they would attract fed into their architect’s masterplan and shaped their vision of a key hub for the city’s digital economy.

Just as importantly, we crunched the numbers. Our insight into MK office rents and residential values, plus our detailed market comparisons, forecasts and viability assessments, helped form the backbone of Socius' successful bid for the site.

MK Gateway

PLANNING

We provided planning advice for this mixed-use redevelopment of the former Milton Keynes Council (MKC) housing offices at ‘Saxon Court’ and the land to the rear.

Our team’s planning knowledge, experience and existing working relationship with MKC planning officers placed us in exceptional stead to advise on this proposal.

From the start, innovation, sustainability and architecture were at the heart of the proposal, with MK Gateway being designed by world renowned architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. We led a series of pre-application meetings where details of the scheme were refined, and we participated in public consultation events where local politicians, businesses and members of the public were able to engage with proposals.

Our team worked with the architects and other consultants to ensure the scheme was compliant with relevant policy and helped to develop strategies for areas of the scheme which pushed the boundaries of what many professionals thought was possible to achieve in planning terms in CMK - it is the first scheme to propose no on-plot parking and includes the tallest building in Milton Keynes.

Additionally, we project managed the full planning application process, as well as non-material amendment submissions and the discharge of planning conditions, and were involved in the preparation of supporting documentation including a detailed Planning Statement, Policy Compliance Statement and Town and Visual Impact Assessment.

During the consultation period, we liaised with the case officer to ensure that consultee comments were addressed and that there were no outstanding technical objections. We went above and beyond to ensure that the application would be considered at the earliest Development Control Committee.

Our Masterplanning, Landscape and Assessment Team provided Townscape Assessment for this project.

Find out more

The ink is now dry on the £13m deal to buy Saxon Court and we are working hand-in-glove with Socius to curate the right mix of tenants and bring forward a planning application for this new £190m gateway to Milton Keynes’ booming science and tech sector.

To Let

MK Gateway, Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 3HS

The plans retain, refurbish and extend Saxon Court to deliver 185,000 sq ft of Grade A workspace incorporating office, coworking and R&D space as well as a dedicated innovation hub.

To Let | MK Gateway

Get in touch with our team

Holly Dawson

Partner, Business Space Agency

Our head of Milton Keynes is on a mission to help cement the city’s place at the heart of the knowledge economy.

Katherine Ilett

Associate, Capital Markets

A true asset to our capital markets team, Katherine specialises in student accommodation, build to rent, development, and strategic consultancy.

Martina Sechi

Associate, Head of Landscape & Townscape Assessment

Martina is passionate about townscape architecture, ensuring her clients’ visions are delivered in a way that complement their settings.

Suzi Green

Principal Planner, Planning

Working across Herts, Beds, Bucks, and Northants, Suzi has expert knowledge and understanding of major planning and policy updates.

Agency
Office
Capital Markets
Investment Management
Planning
Masterplanning, Landscape & Assessment
Planning Consultancy

Agency

Property solutions in high-tech clusters, city centres and rural estates

Office

Our unmatched market knowledge helps you secure only the best office investments.

Capital Markets

Your proactive partner – guiding each strategic move

Investment Management

Optimising investment strategies for more than 150 years

Planning

Develop winning planning strategies that deliver successful projects

Masterplanning, Landscape & Assessment

Design that delivers on your priorities and contributes to green infrastructure.

Planning Consultancy

Comprehensive planning strategy and submission advice - tailored to your site and your objectives.