Milton Keynes
Since 1967 Milton Keynes has grown rapidly from a population of 40,000 people to 225,000 people in 2006. The city is planned to the highest standards for social, economic and environmental needs, creating a unique place for business.
The last and most flourishing new town, Milton Keynes looks and feels like no other, which is why we are the most successful business centre outside London. Our business growth is nearly three times the national average.
Amongst our 7000 companies we are home to DaimlerChrysler, Abbey, Argos, BP Suzuki and Coca Cola Enterprises and the Open University. We are a truly international city with over 500 foreign owned firms and yet our exceptional business start up rates, a city of entrepreneurs.
The city continues to be a flagship of growth. By 2031 our population will have risen to 350,000, the size of which will place the city amongst the country's top ten cities.
We are concentrating on continuing this historic success.
Alongside providing new high quality social and community facilities we are working to ensure that we have the skills needed for this regional centre to prosper by developing a new university, new state of the art schools and strong workforce development programmes.
In addition we are enhancing rapid transport links for economic growth. We are strengthening rail services from our seven railway stations, supporting the M1 improvements into London as well as enhancing the important local and regional links.
The City is meticulously planned and knows what it wants and how to get it. There are detailed plans covering major development projects for the next 10 years and further plans to 2031. Recent additions include:
- Stadium:MK, home to the MK Dons FC has a capacity 31,000 for sports events and 35,000 for concerts. On the side of the stadium is Arena:MK, a 6,500 multi-use venue for conferences, events and sports. Early in 2008 Arena:MK will become the home of the MK Lions basketball team, the second of the city's three professional sports clubs. The third club, MK Lightning is multi-trophy winning ice hockey club playing at Planet Ice in the Leisure Plaza.
- Two new city centre hotels with conference facilities incorporating a business centre
- Large new retail developments including Europe's largest ASDA; the fastest-built IKEA; the world's largest B&Q plus major developments for Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
- £200m+ of developments to improve rail connections; improvements to the M1 and A5 junctions
- And Extracare residential development of 258 units for people with additional care needs
- And the City has opened 11 new schools in the last 5 years
- Housing completions in Milton Keynes are more than twice the rate of any other authority in the South East
There is a lot more to come including:
- A University Centre in the City Centre due to open in 2008
- The Pinnacle - a 200,000+ sq ft office development, currently under construction
- 2 new swimming pools (including a 50m pool)
- Two major sports centres and 4 new sports pavilions
- 8 new schools in the next 5 years
- A new country park
- Extensions to the theatre and gallery
- New health facilities
- £400m+ expansion of city centre retail
- Technopole - an advance setting for high tech business
