About MKDP
Since its inception, MKDP has delivered more than 1.2 million sq ft of commercial space, secured planning permission for over 1,000 homes on MKDP land, and increased the proportion of affordable housing on our sites from 31% to 36%. To date, 260 affordable homes have been delivered, over 2,200 local jobs have been created, and more than £350 million in development value has been generated. Our schemes have also received awards for planning excellence, and we have a strong pipeline of activity for the next decade that will bring further benefits and opportunities to the local community and beyond.
Although MKDP is wholly owned by MKCC, the Council recognises the need for specialist expertise and has delegated full management responsibility for MKDP’s operations to the LLP Board. MKDP is supported by a committed Executive Team, led by the Managing Director, who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and for ensuring that the decisions of the LLP Board are delivered effectively.
Our recent placemaking projects, such as improvements to Milton Keynes Market, our re-imagining of station square and our work with the City Council and partners to protect, renew and ensure the success of the City Centre will also make a significant contribution to the success of Milton Keynes as will our ability. Our current placemaking projects focus on the city centre and include supporting the delivery of a city centre university and a new events/entertainment venue, and the creation of a modern high street.
Delivering the property elements of the MKDP priorities is critical to ensuring success. The Delivery Team will utilise the current portfolio to provide capital to fund our ambitious placemaking projections, while also providing revenue to sustain the operational side of the business and making a profit distribution to the City Council.
Milton Keynes
Built in the 1960s as one of the country’s ‘New Cities’, Milton Keynes embodied the hope and optimism of the post-war period. It has since been hailed as a visionary feat of urban planning and modernist design, providing high living standards and an alternative model of municipal living for its residents. Situated equidistantly between London, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge, our prime location has helped build a strong economy and as a result, Milton Keynes the third most productive UK city outside London. The new East West Rail (currently under construction) will also boost our already excellent transport connections, providing new rail links to Oxford and Cambridge. From a pre-founding population of 50,000, Milton Keynes has grown to host almost 300,000 – with some estimating that this could get to half a million by 2050.
Milton Keynes is an excellent place to live, work, run a business and develop property.
Here are just some of the reasons:
exceptionally good connections to London, other major UK cities and international markets both by road, rail and air.
the location for more than 400 head office and financial services organisations.
Volkswagen, Santander, Deloitte, Dentons, Network Rail and Mercedes-Benz have chosen Milton Keynes to be their UK prime office location.
workforce of more than 22,000 people with specialist skills across areas including financial services, law, accounting, management consultancy and business administration.
overall workforce of some 167,000, significantly larger than almost all alternative London satellite locations that means security of labour supply for expanding companies.
Milton Keynes offers employers significant savings on property and labour costs versus competitor UK locations, including -72% lower prime office rents than London.
ambitious expansion plans being delivered by MKDP and other public and private land owners to accommodate the city’s growing population, which is projected to increase by 21% between 2016 and 2036.
housebuilding in the city will average 2,422 new homes per year between 2016 and 2021, complemented by large-scale commercial construction and infrastructure development.
unlike most UK cities, because it is still a relatively new location, Milton Keynes still has land suitable available that can be used for the required facilities.
The LLP Board
Chair - Nicola Sawford
Nicola is a portfolio non-executive director with over 30 years of business experience. She is a qualified chartered accountant and her senior executive experience covers all operational areas and a wide variety of organisations and sectors including professional services, technology, retail, media, financial services, regulation and charities.
Nicola’s other board positions include Chair of Chelmer Housing Partnership and member of the advisory boards for Managing Partners’ Forum and Fifth Day.
Julia has over 30 years experience in the UK real estate development and major infrastructure market, where she has been responsible for the delivery of numerous high profile projects in both the private and public sector. Julia is a portfolio Non Executive Director for a number of development and construction companies: Corserv Solutions Limited, Gateway 14 Limited, This Land and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust as Chairperson of their new hospital programme.
During her executive career, Julia was the Director of Projects at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, heading up the delivery of its £275m investment plan for the Governments new garden city Ebbsfleet. Prior to this Julia headed up the development at both Gatwick and Stansted Airports. Julia is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation as well as being the Chairperson for Home-Start Herts a social care charity.
Independent Member - Julia Gregory
Independent Member - Misan Nwokorie
Misan is a portfolio Non-Executive Director, with over two decades of executive experience in the UK real estate sector.
She has spent her professional career working across design, construction, and property development, holding roles in major UK organisations, and responsible for leading numerous high profile capital projects in private and public sectors.
Misan’s other board positions include Vice Chair of Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), Board Trustee and Chair of the Estates committee at The Girls Day School Trust (GDST), and a Committee Advisor for the African Science Academy (ASA).
Moving forwards
Our aims are closely aligned with those of the Council. In particular, we’re committed to using our extensive portfolio of land assets to help them deliver their ambitious and forward-Strategy for 2025 and Council Plans– which includes more public green and cultural offerings, sustainable and healthy transport infrastructure, and good jobs and housing for everyone.
The Council has declared a climate emergency and pledged to become carbon negative by 2050, therefore building climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience into these projects is crucial if the city is to reach its ambitious and impressive targets.
It’s a decisive moment for MKDP and we need the right board leadership in place to realise both our vision as a partnership and the wider potential of Milton Keynes as a centre of sustainable economic growth, social prosperity and cultural innovation. Come and join the MKDP Board and help us build a city for the future.
Tracey O’Donnell, Managing Director MKDP
Misan Nwokorie, Independent Member
Members of MKDP, Feyi Oyesiku, Finance Officer and Abiola Yusuf, Finance Director