Go-ahead given for redevelopment of former Milton Keynes council building

Mixed-use developer First Base and investors Patron Capital have received planning consent for the £180M redevelopment of Saxon Court, a former council building in Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes Council has approved plans for a new space to live, work, and socialise, within the equivalent size of 19 tennis courts worth of publicly accessible space, at the gateway to Central Milton Keynes.

The development will see the retention, refurbishment, and extension of the original Saxon Court building, which the project team said will save over 3,750 tonnes of CO₂.

The 2.35-acre site, which will be known as MK Gateway, will create over 2,000 new jobs, deliver over £300M in social value over the next 20 years, and provide opportunities for independent food, drink, and retail outlets, including workshop space for local SMEs.

MK Gateway will also see the development of two new buildings; the Shed, a space for local businesses to make and create, and the Village, which, alongside 288 apartments, will incorporate a UK first – 11 vertical gardens for residents to share and enjoy.

Steve Eccles, Project Director at First Base, said: “We are delighted to have received support from the council for our innovative and sustainable mixed-use development in central Milton Keynes. We will now look to continue to engage and work with Milton Keynes Council, local businesses, charities, and the community to bring our exciting plans to life.”