Work set to begin on £150m Santander Business Hub in CMK despite parking concerns

    Work is set to begin on Santander’s £150m UK technology hub in October. 

    The eight-storey building, which has been coined as a "digital banking hub" will replace the existed offices on Midsummer Boulevard.  It will bring together all of Santander’s employees, who are currently spread across four offices.

    The building has been designed by London architects, LOM Architecture and Design, and will provide 5,000 workstations spread across 37,000sq m of open-plan office space and arranged in four blocks. These are connected by three atria which allow natural light into the building.

    Topped by a roof terrace, the scheme will also contain publically accessible shops and cafes, a community hall, auditorium and co-working space.

    Santander described it as a response to the digitalisation of the banking sector and part of the bank’s strategy to adapt to changing technology.

    Work is slated to complete in 2022.
     

    PARKING

    MK Council's Development Control Committee green-lit the building at their meeting on Thursday, despite concerns raised about the loss of parking, after councillors decided that the loss of parking spaces in the city centre is a price worth paying.

    Councillors heard that there are currently 580 car parking spaces on the site, 296 for some Santander employees, and 284 for members of the public.

    The bank will provide 300 temporary spaces for its staff while construction takes place. It will also pay the council £378,000 to cover the permanent loss of 151 public parking spaces.

    But council officers say 133 public spaces will not be provided on a temporary basis, which could cause disruption.

    The Digital Hub will eventually provide 884 spaces for staff and 133 for the public. According to the council this will be a total of 253 spaces fewer than needed, according to council formulas for calculating such matters.

    Nick Roberts, Head of Property at Santander UK said: “We’re really pleased that that our plans to invest in a new state-of-the-art office campus have been approved by Milton Keynes Council. This is an exciting next step in the development of our flagship UK technology hub – giving our colleagues a cutting-edge working environment and reaffirming our long-term commitment and support for the local community.”

    But Cllr Ric Brackenbury said: “I wish an application such as this did not have a flaw that big. I do not want to vote against and application that’s this exciting.”

    Cllr Andrew Geary was more effusive, comparing the Digital Hub to the award-winning National Rail HQ around the corner.

    “It’s a damn good design which is going to give us an iconic entrance outside the railway station,” he said. He added that parking has to be taken seriously and concluded that the issue has “probably been dealt with well enough.”

    And Cllr Keith McLean said he didn’t think MK would have a big problem, as some Santander workers parked in public spaces in the city anyway. “No pain, no gain and it’s short term,” he said.

    Cllr Martin Petchey said it was right when the world faced a “climate emergency” to encourage travel by public transport.

    “It is a great design, in a great location, 400 yards from the railway station,” he said.

    Cllr Pauline Wallis vowed to go knocking on Santander’s door if parking became a problem.

    “If they park in Bradwell Common I will be coming down and give you hell,” she told the Santander representative. “It’s fabulous, it’s going to look so dynamic. I love it.”

     

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