Plans approved for £180m redevelopment project in UK

British mixed-use developer First Base and private equity firm Patron Capital have reportedly received planning consent from Milton Keynes Council for the £180m redevelopment of Saxon Court site in Milton Keynes, the UK. Saxon Court is an office building, which was previously occupied by Milton Keynes council and is now being used as a vaccination centre. In October 2020, the companies acquired the project site to create a new Build-to-Rent homes, flexible workspace, Grade A office, retail and community spaces. Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, the project will involve retention, refurbishment, and extension of the original Saxon Court building by three floors. The 2.35-acre site, to be called as MK Gateway, will also include construction of two new buildings, called The Shed and The Village. The Shed will be a space for local businesses to make and create, while the other building will have 288 apartments with 11 vertical gardens, totalling 4,500ft2, for residents to share and enjoy. The extending Saxon Court building will provide office space. The existing atrium space in the building will be converted into an indoor public square featuring local independent food, drink, and leisure spaces, connected to an outdoor ‘village green’. Plan to retain and refurbish the Saxon Court will save more than 3,750 tonnes of Co2 instead of demolishing and rebuilding.