Lend Lease's long-awaited masterplan for the regeneration of Milton Keynes' shopping centre, The Centre:MK, has been unveiled by owners Hermes and Prudential.
A planning application has been lodged to revitalise and extend the centre as part of a£400 million project.
The plan includes 51,000 sq m of new retail space and 8,800 sq m of leisure space, to be built in three phases. This will provide 100 additional stores, cafes and restaurants, as well as extensions to the existing John Lewis and House of Fraser stores. There will also be improvements to car parking and public transport.
A retractable glazed roof, closeable in poor weather, is planned for Queens Court to create a year-round destination featuring restaurants and cafes around a landscaped courtyard.
Milton Keynes is one of three locations in the Southeast earmarked by deputy prime minister John Prescott for major expansion. This could see the population almost double from the current target of 250,000 people and has given the centre's owners confidence to press on with their ambitious plans for the 20-year-old centre.
Hermes director of retail Andrew Martin said: 'We have worked closely with Milton Keynes Council, English Partnerships and other stakeholders to create our mastervision for central Milton Keynes. We believe our plans will contribute to the continued success of this city and help realise its true potential as a premier regional leisure, cultural and shopping destination.'
No comments yet