A new higher education institute in Milton Keynes

An investment opportunity to accelerate the growth of a skills-for-the-future higher education institute for the digital economy, created with business and for business.

This is a chance to create a University Quarter in Milton Keynes, the UK’s fastest-growing city.

This will include education facilities, an innovation hub and entrepreneurship centre, student accommodation, laboratory and business spaces, a conference centre and hotel, and a living laboratory showcasing emerging technologies for smart urban living.

Location:

Milton Keynes

Investment type:

Capital investment - real estate

Sector:

(Greener buildings, Real estate, Residential, Retail, Leisure & creative, Science & innovation)

Project promoter:

Cranfield University and Milton Keynes Council partnership

Scale:

£180 million

Planning status:

Outline planning obtained

Time to Final Investment Decision (FID):

6-12 months

Simon Sweetinburgh

Senior Investment Specialist

Contact the opportunity lead

Get in touch

Sector and market opportunity

MK:U is well on its way. Revenue funding for the first 3 years pilot test was provided by SEMLEP, and match-funded by business.

Already, MK:U has launched 9 degree apprenticeship pathways with 400 students registered and more courses scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2025 (funding already secured), established the Innovation Hub with over 600 members, and recruited 30 active big company clients.

It has secured funding to enable an application to be made in 2024 for registration with the UK Office for Students and listing on UCAS.

Capital funds are now required to expand provision and facilities to enable the further growth of MK:U. Original designs as submitted in the planning application are to be amended, following a successful 3-year pilot phase.

MK:U seeks a partner experienced in innovation districts and university collaborations, and/or an investor seeking participation in a leading business-skills oriented higher education institute.

Location

MK:U is strategically positioned in the centre of Milton Keynes, a ‘Smart City’ at the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK.

A recent report for MK City Council estimated that its economy was £14.7 billion in 2022, making it the 14th largest in the UK.

Milton Keynes has an estimated tech workforce of 45,000, around 2,400 tech related enterprises and a tech GVA valued at around £3.4 billion n for 2022.

Connectivity

Milton Keynes is well connected by both rail and road. Milton Keynes Central railway station is on the West Coast main line between London and Scotland. Milton Keynes is 30 minutes to London Euston by fast train.

The closest airport is London Luton (30 minutes by car). It is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from the following airports: London Heathrow, London Stansted, East Midlands.

MK:U is approximately 5 miles from the M1, the UK’s main motorway between London, Birmingham (70 miles north of Milton Keynes) and the North of England.

Milton Keynes Coachway is the main hub for a national coach service. The UK government has recently confirmed further funding for East West Rail which will connect Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes.

Local talent and skills

MK:U already has a network of 117 business supporters and over 600 innovators and entrepreneurs.

It has over 400 students already on programme with plans to grow rapidly to 2,000 and a ten-year plan to reach 4,000. Key partners include Santander UK, Milton Keynes City Council, and Rockwell Automation.

Research and expertise

The project is being led by Cranfield University under the MK:U undergraduate brand, filling skills gaps in new digital technologies including data science, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and cyber security.

Further details

Built by business for business, MK:U is a new model university in the UK’s fastest-growing city, providing cross-disciplinary working in the faculties of:

business and entrepreneurship
design thinking
data and digital technologies
engineering and robotics

The project will be delivered in 3 phases spanning 15 years and ultimately aims to supply courses to over 15,000 students and business delegates each year.

Debt funding or a joint venture investment partner is being sought for phase 1, to deliver a diverse range of accommodation totalling 61,000 square metres (657,000 square feet), including:

faculty, teaching, research and lab space
1,000 student apartments
a 100-bed conference hotel
independent retail and other related services
an innovation centre

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) highlights

Architects are designing the buildings for MK:U to high BREEAM standards.

The surrounding campus will incorporate a number of green principles, such as maximising public transport, pedestrian and cycling access. And it’ll be run as a ‘smart site’ and living laboratory.

Promoters and partnerships

MK:U is a partnership between Cranfield University and Milton Keynes City Council.

Cranfield University is a world-leading British postgraduate public research university with an international reputation for science, engineering, aerospace, technology and management.

Local and national government support

The local authority, MK Council, is co-leading the MK:U project with cross-party support. MK Council appointed Cranfield University as the lead higher education provider and works closely in collaboration with it.

Funding for the current 2-phase pilot test has been provided by SEMLEP (the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership) and match-funded by business.

Other opportunities

Heat networks in the North East and Tees Valley

Heat networks form an essential and significant part of the UK’s plan to reduce carbon emissions, and The North East and Tees Valley are primed to lead the UK in delivering this.

Tyne Clean Energy Park

An exciting opportunity to invest in the North East’s most versatile clean energy park at the Port of Tyne.

Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS)

Investment at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) focuses on re-energising Scotland’s local manufacturing base. Development opportunities include advanced manufacturing, aerospace and commercial offices. Investment opportunities include joint-venture partnerships.

Howbery Business Park in Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Creation of a centre of excellence for water, the environment and climate change, providing opportunities for collaboration across research, innovation and industry

Brent Cross Town

Brent Cross Town will be a new 1 million square metre (10 million square foot) mixed-use neighbourhood spanning 180 acres, with 50 acres of open space, parkland and playing fields.

Fawley Waterside

Fawley Waterside aims to be one of the first net zero smart towns in Europe; spread over 400,000 square metres, it will sit inside the proposed Solent Freeport.

Cardiff Central Quay

A 200,000 square metre mixed-use regeneration scheme adjacent to Cardiff’s Central station, in the heart of the capital city of Wales.

Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire

Bicester Motion is a 444-acre branded commercial and leisure destination, strategically located at the heart of the UK’s mobility and tourism industries.

Newtown Works in Ashford, Kent

A mixed-use town centre regeneration project offering world-class film studios, apartments and commercial space at a heritage site next to Ashford International Station.

Gravity

An immediate investment opportunity in a data-driven commercial development that’s focused on sustainability and clean growth.

Arden Cross in the Midlands

Arden Cross is a global destination for innovation, business, learning and living, across more than 140 hectares in Solihull in the West Midlands.

First Street in Manchester

A high-profile opportunity to invest in net zero commercial office space in the heart of Manchester City Centre.

Heath Park in Cheshire

A unique ethical investment opportunity for a mixed-use regeneration development, focused on market-leading green technology, at a thriving and successful business and technical park.

Purfleet-on-Thames

An opportunity to invest in a £1.3 billion development along the Thames Estuary – a creative hub and new town centre providing homes, film and TV studios and community and transport infrastructure.

Perth West in Scotland

A strategic opportunity for debt, equity investment, co-investment or development funding to develop a net zero eco innovation business park and city expansion.

Clyde Gateway Green Regeneration Innovation District (GRID) in Glasgow

Thinking globally, acting locally. Clyde Gateway's GRID integrates real estate and climate resilience in a '20-minute neighbourhood' near central Glasgow.

210616_1527-BelfastTransportHub_V15-with MSCP 1.png

Weavers Cross transport-led regeneration project in Belfast

Located alongside the largest integrated transport hub in Ireland, Weavers Cross is a 121,000 square metre regeneration project of mixed-use space.

Teesworks in North East England

Teesworks is a significant brownfield regeneration opportunity in the UK, with the largest and most connected industrial zone and diverse, sustainable and low-carbon activity.

The Waterside in Belfast, Northern Ireland

An opportunity to invest in a prime waterfront location in central Belfast – something that’ll cater for the office, hotel, serviced apartments, residential and private rental sectors.

18 Central, Corporation Street, Belfast,

A substantial build-to-rent project in Belfast city centre, with a chance for early participation via different finance options - including equity share and traditional funding.

Harlow Innovation Park

This is an opportunity to forward fund or acquire future assets at the developing 10-hectare Harlow Innovation Park on an individual or multiple plot basis.

Kings Hall Life Sciences Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland

An opportunity to invest in the next two phases of regeneration of Kings Hall Life Sciences Park. This project is a significant economic driver in the life sciences sector and has already attracted government funding; the first phase of construction is complete and 40,000 square feet fully occupied by Life Sciences tenants.

MIRA Technology Park, South Site in North Warwickshire

A £260 million funding opportunity for occupier-led investment in the industrial sector with potential for a multi-phased development approach. The scheme provides rare, strategic and advanced manufacturing facilities with associated links to the extensive research and development infrastructure at MIRA.

Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Comprising of 75 hectares or 185 acres of prime waterfront land, this project is one of Northern Ireland’s most important regeneration enterprises.

The Sixth, Royal Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland

An opportunity to invest in a mixed-use, 250,000 square feet space that will serve the Grade A office, creative and technology sectors.

A new high-speed terminus in Birmingham Curzon

Several major investment opportunities exist around the development of a new high-speed terminus station in Birmingham city centre.

Norwich Union House, Belfast, Northern Ireland

A chance to invest early in a 160,000sq ft mixed-use, 7-storey building primarily for Grade A offices in Belfast. Full planning permission is already in place. A variety of finance options are available including equity share or traditional funding.

GatewayEast in Doncaster

A chance to invest in a world-class destination for research, innovation and living, where sustainable environments and international connectivity create an opportunity for communities to thrive.

Interchange Commercial District in Wolverhampton

A chance for developers and investors to get involved with the Interchange Commercial District area in Wolverhampton, via a range of investment and delivery structures.

East Midlands Freeport

The East Midlands Freeport is the UK’s only inland Freeport, with unparalleled connectivity across the country, to international cities, and home to a wide range of innovative sectors.

The Biosphere at Newcastle Helix

A unique opportunity for an investor-developer to partner with Newcastle City Council and accelerate growth in an established life science ecosystem.

Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

A public-private partnership bringing South Yorkshire’s most innovative organisations in health, sports and wellbeing together in an actively managed ecosystem, to advance health outcomes and economic growth. Opportunity to invest in 4 foundation buildings as part of a 92,092 sqm (1m sqft) masterplan.

Queen's Parade, Bangor

The project has the dual advantage of being situated within the heart of Bangor city centre but also with direct access to an attractive coastline and marina environment. Its importance is such that it has been awarded significant Levelling Up funding which will contribute to a high quality of public realm within the project itself. It is a project capable of 4 phases. The total project value is around £83 million. Consideration will be given to both funding and equity options.

ID Manchester

ID Manchester is seeking a residential developer partner(s) to deliver over 2000 residential units (Build to Rent and Student Accommodation) as an innovative property offer. This is in keeping with ID Manchester’s vision to become Europe’s most sustainable and inclusive innovation district. It is positioned at the heart of Manchester City Centre and the city’s Knowledge Quarter. The procurement process to appoint a residential partner or investor is anticipated to begin in July 2024.

Speak to us

The government is identifying new projects across the whole of the UK. Investors who are interested in our projects can find out more by contacting us.