Milton Keynes City Council joins Oxford 'Science Cities'
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Future Cities Forum is delighted that Sophie Lloyd, Head of Economic Development at Milton Keynes City Council, will join our Oxford 'Science Cities' discussion this month.
Sophie leads Economic Development (Invest MK) and key areas include Innovation and Smart Cities, regional working (Devolution, Fast Growth Cities network, Oxford- Cambridge arc), Bletchley Town Deal, Sustainability, and Infrastructure investment planning.
Milton Keynes City Council is set to appoint contractors to demolish the Brunel Centre and former Wilko building, marking a major step in Bletchley's renewal and unlocking one of the town centre's most significant regeneration opportunities.
The project is one of the flagship schemes in the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Deal programme and represents a key milestone in the city council's long-term plans to transform the area, set out in its Bletchley and Fenny Stratford 2050 vision.
The demolition would pave the way for future redevelopment of the site, creating opportunities for new investment to bring about a more vibrant and attractive town centre.
With East West Rail set to strengthen Bletchley's position as a major transport hub, the city council sees the regeneration of the town centre as vital to ensuring the area is ready to benefit from future growth, bringing new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors.
The Brunel Centre and former Wilko building have become increasingly outdated and are no longer suited to modern commercial needs. Their removal is seen as a key step towards bringing forward the next phase of regeneration in the heart of Bletchley.
Milton Keynes has positioned itself as a standout investment destination, building on its status as one of the UK’s most successful new cities, designed for growth, innovation and opportunity. Now home to over 300,000 residents, the city supports more than 200,000 jobs and is one of the strongest-performing local economies in the country.
It says:
'Milton Keynes generates over £16.7 billion in economic output (GVA), with productivity levels around 25% higher than the UK average, underlining its strength as a location for business and investment. At its core, the prospectus highlights a pipeline of ambitious opportunities designed to deliver new homes, jobs and infrastructure while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability, connectivity and quality of life.
'This includes opportunities linked to major regional growth drivers, including the proposed Universal Studios theme park development nearby, which is expected to unlock significant investment potential, boost visitor economy growth and create new demand for homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure across Milton Keynes.
'The city is also building momentum after being longlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029, further strengthening its cultural offer alongside its strong economic performance.'
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