Banking campus planned for Milton Keynes

Santander has unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art campus in Milton Keynes to support its long-term growth strategy, representing an investment of over £150M in the town.

The new Milton Keynes campus will act as the bank’s UK technology hub, delivering a boost for the Government’s vision of a Cambridge-Milton-Keynes “growth corridor” nurturing the UK’s most innovative industries.

The proposed new office, which is expected to be home to over 5,000 staff, will replace the bank’s existing local office buildings with a world-class working environment specifically designed to encourage collaboration and innovation, supported by cutting-edge technology.

Santander UK Chief Executive Nathan Bostock said: “We are excited to be sharing our proposals for this major investment in Milton Keynes, reflecting our long-term commitment to the local area. We want a workplace which truly reflects our culture and our vision for the future, which is based on innovation and harnessing new technology to make banking simpler and more personal for our customers.”

Milton Keynes Council Leader Pete Marland said: “Santander is making a big statement about the kind of employer it wants to be, and is showing great commitment to MK by making us the heart of their national operations. We’re delighted these innovative plans are taking shape in MK as we know first-hand what it means to be a pioneer.”

It is expected that a planning application for the new campus will be submitted early in 2019 following consultation with the local authority and community groups. Subject to planning permission, it is anticipated that the building will be ready to open in 2022.