MILTON KEYNES | Projects and Construction

[aldredd]

Originally Posted by SteveAWOL

Apologies, I missed that post in amongst all the photos!

I am also disappointed that they went with that location as that area is congested enough most evenings as it is and don't really want loads of drunks from the Theatre District and Xscape rolling into the casino just because it's the only bar still open

I think it just lowers the tone of what could / should otherwise be a pretty upmarket venue.
I also think the other areas would have benefited more - leisure plaza in is desperate need of some investment, and stad:mk as an entertainment venue - and ideally situated far enough away from housing so as to hopefully reduce
temptation for those addicted.

[SteveAWOL]

Originally Posted by aldredd

I think it just lowers the tone of what could / should otherwise be a pretty upmarket venue.
I also think the other areas would have benefited more - leisure plaza in is desperate need of some investment, and stad:mk as an entertainment venue - and ideally situated far enough away from housing so as to hopefully reduce
temptation for those addicted.

The casino should definitely be further away from the bars and nightclubs, at least Luton Grosvenor is a few minutes walk from the town centre so not too many drunks strolling up for drinks in the early hours to make use of its 24 hour license.

As far as addicts go, a casino is a better place for people to go gambling in relative safety where at least the staff or other patrons might help them. Certainly less pernicious than online gambling with people sat at home maxing out their credit cards in solitude.

[link_road_17/7]

Proof that the recession is over (or the recovery well underway) in MK?

Costa Coffee have opened in Queensway, Bletchley.

In the interests of balance we now need a B&M Bargains in CMK, or at least a Greggs at Station Square.

[link_road_17/7]

From: http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/b...lift-1-3789701

Originally Posted by MKCitizen

New beauty spa at centre of flagship MK store’s facelift

A BEAUTY spa will be added to a flagship store in Milton Keynes as part of a multi-million pound revamp.



The Beauty Retreat at John Lewis in thecentre:mk will be located on the first floor and offer treatments such as facials, manicures, pedicures, eyebrow/eyelash tinting and threading

Paul Hunt, MD of John Lewis Milton Keynes said: “We believe the Beauty Retreat will not only inspire and delight shoppers but add to their shopping experience.

“The Retreat is still a relatively new concept for John Lewis but its been really well received by customers and it will be a fabulous addition to the services customers will be able to access in-store.”

The extensive revamp will also see an espresso bar along with revamped fashion, home and consumer electronics departments.

The store’s layout will be reshaped to increase the selling floor, currently about 120,000 sq-ft by around 20,000 sq-ft.

The idea behind it is to “enhance customers’ shopping experience” to increase the amount of time they spend in the store.

The haberdashery and womenswear departments will be the first departments to showcase a new look.

Changes to womenswear will include a denim wall, contemporary fixtures for jewellery and accessories, as well as host of top new brands and a luxury fashion advice suite.

The refurbishment will be complete in about October and the store will remain open throughout.

John Lewis has been in Milton Keynes for more than 30 year and the revamp marks a vote of confidence in thecentre:mk.

With permission given for a casino at Xscape, new owners of the Theatre District and plans in the offing for the Secklow Gate area of the centre:mk, as well as a multi-million pound investment in Midsummer Place, the face of the retail centre of Milton Keynes could be changing markedly over the coming months.

[link_road_17/7]

An update on Station Square - serious snagging issues with the bus shelters, carriageways and paving not meeting the site design, so more work will possibly have to be redone!

Earliest finish date is early June.

[MK Tom]

Originally Posted by link_road_17/7

An update on Station Square - serious snagging issues with the bus shelters, carriageways and paving not meeting the site design, so more work will possibly have to be redone!

Earliest finish date is early June.

Oh not good...

I don't know if anyone's been following the massive debate over the proposed Midsummer Place expansions?

[aldredd]

Originally Posted by MK Tom

Oh not good...

I don't know if anyone's been following the massive debate over the proposed Midsummer Place expansions?

No, what's the latest.

I'm very pro-development in MK, but do disagree with the plans (as I did with the xScape ones - man MKC seem to be getting it very wrong lately )

[flange]

Only two units are now left to be let at MK1 Shopping Park. With Primark, BHS Home/Outfit, River Island, H&M and Mark & Spencer all confirmed to be opening at the scheme now.

http://www.completelyretail.co.uk/me...brochure_2.pdf

[MK Tom]

Originally Posted by aldredd

No, what's the latest.

I'm very pro-development in MK, but do disagree with the plans (as I did with the xScape ones - man MKC seem to be getting it very wrong lately )

Likewise. I'd like to see an electric public transport route run through that arch and the current plans block off pedestrian entrance from that side and force everyone through the narrow dark 'cycle route' down the side.

I think a proper bus station should be built on the site between the Point and the Food Hall. Then lower ninth street can be closed off and possibly partly built over to create a mixed pedestrian and retail space.

[MK Tom]

A few more pics for the pleasure of y'all:

Network Rail from the X4:





The crazy 6-lane section of H5 Portway that was done up a few years ago:


New progress on the Station Square bus stand:


Shopping building extension in mental rain:


Network Rail from the station car park roof:


Silbury Boulevard from the same location:


And the Pinnacle:


Lastly, new homes at Oxley Park:

[SteveAWOL]

What is located in The Point nowadays? I have fond memories of watching movies there back in the 80s but the last time I visited The Point was when Easy Cinema was there and the place stank so we went to watch whatever movie it was at CineWorld instead!

BBC News - Plans for Milton Keynes' Point building go on display

MKNews | News | Plans to demolish The Point go on display

[aldredd]

Originally Posted by SteveAWOL

What is located in The Point nowadays? I have fond memories of watching movies there back in the 80s but the last time I visited The Point was when Easy Cinema was there and the place stank so we went to watch whatever movie it was at CineWorld instead!

BBC News - Plans for Milton Keynes' Point building go on display

MKNews | News | Plans to demolish The Point go on display

Oh god no!

Yes, the point has fallen into dis-repair and indeed has become a bit of an eyesore, but only because it's fallen into dis-repair - this can be un-done.
Heck, get rid of the cinema bit, fine - build something new, great, all for that - but to get rid of the point? Why not make it a Museum or something if the space is that useless to leisure operators? 'Modern Art' gallery or something.

[Rational Plan]

http://www.thepointmiltonkeynes.co.uk/index.html

From there consultation website

Justification for retail development

The proposals for redeveloping The Point are in line with policies laid out in Milton Keynes Council Core Strategy (Revised Proposed Submission, October 2010). The Core Strategy identifies a need for additional retail in Central Milton Keynes of around 85,000sqm (gross) up until 2021. Hammerson’s proposed development would provide approximately 13,000 sqm gross, which is just 1/6th of this figure (or approximately equivalent to the sales floorspace of John Lewis’s MK store).

If the city centre does not accommodate retail growth then Milton Keynes will lose out to other centres, including Aylesbury, Oxford and Northampton.

The key objectives for Central Milton Keynes include enhancing the city as a regional and national destination by:
bringing higher quality buildings and spaces
achieving growing visitor numbers

To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to replace the existing buildings on the site.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

The point is one of the few points of historical interest in the centre (pardon the pun), by all means demolish the rest of the complex but keep the pyramid surely. As has been said would make a great tourist attraction, gallary or even a bloody wetherspoons but to see it knocked over for a very dull looking development *sigh*.

[MK Tom]

I'm divided on whether or not to keep the point. I'm not divided on how utterly boring and unworthy the currently proposed replacement is. It couldn't be more bland and off-the-shelf if it tried. We're trying to make MK a world city here! That's the level people should be thinking on when designing new buildings.

A few photos, showing the new Campbell Park outdoor theatre, the base for the new totem pole, the new cladding on the shopping centre extension and the Network Rail building's latest progress down its Elder Gate side:

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr


Also the folks at Milton Keynes Council are running a consultation about future changes to public transport (particularly information about it) in the MK area. Proposals include Real Time screens and announcements inside buses, a night bus service, an all-operator MK area ticket and much more. Consultation document is here: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/tran...e.asp?ID=86048

[link_road_17/7]

The Point must be kept, not only because of its place in Central Milton Keynes' heritage, but one of national importance, given that the multiplex cinema part of the complex revived the trend in cinema attendance, which in turn reinvigorated night-time economies in all our urban centres.

IMO, it is a future asset of national cultural importance.

Anyhow, most pleasing to see more of the porte cocheres being brightened up:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[captainflynn23]

Is that building they are wanting to replace the point with just full of shops? Isn't that area already full of shops with the shopping centre?

Nice pics aswell. I do like the artwork, it does make things abit more vibrant.

[link_road_17/7]

Originally Posted by captainflynn23

Is that building they are wanting to replace the point with just full of shops? Isn't that area already full of shops with the shopping centre?

Nice pics aswell. I do like the artwork, it does make things abit more vibrant.

Exactly, unless they are attracting "new" names, what is the point? All it will do is create further empty units elsewhere.

What should happen is adaptation of existing space to meet retailers' requirements, with future retail/leisure flanking Midsummer Boulevard between Station Square and Margaret Powell Square.

This is the main pedestrian/cycle (east-west) flow through CMK, and would ease weekend parking issues, by creating balance towards the CBD quarter where there is under-used parking.

The area between The Point and Xscape, plus the former Wyevale, should be kept for leisure/community purposes, for the intended Swimming Pool/Aquatics Centre, Community Hub, Primary School, etc., as proposed in the Community Infrastructure Plan.

[link_road_17/7]

From: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/tran...e.asp?ID=86875

Originally Posted by Milton Keynes Council

MK Moove - A new bus ticket for Milton Keynes

The new ticket will be available from 3 June and offers unlimited travel on all of these operator's services within Milton Keynes Borough (except Stagecoach X5) - just buy from the driver on the first bus you board.

A day ticket costs £4.50 and weekly tickets are £16.

As this is a first initiative by all operators and Milton Keynes Council to offer more economical and user friendly bus travel , some participating bus operators will require alterations to their ticket machines to ensure that all tickets issued will be compatible with other participating bus operators. This may take a few weeks but it is expected that all participating operators should be able to issue tickets soon.

In the meantime, the following operators – Red Rose, Reline, Z&S and Arriva Shires (service 70, 100 & 150) will be happy to accept MK Moove tickets to make travelling ‘udderly fantastic’.

Great idea. MKC contracted services already accepted Arriva MK daily and seasons, but it was a pain if the first bus you intended to travel was a different operator from Arriva.

[link_road_17/7]

MKC are going to consultation on proposals for Bow Brickhill village centre to be redesigned.

Details here: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/deve...e.asp?ID=86440

Personally, although shared-space is the 'trend', I am still not completely sold on the idea. Bow Brickhill suffers from too much pavement parking (especially around the primary school, and traffic speeds as a rat-run avoiding the H10/V11 (which is hardly congested anyway!!).

It was proposed many years ago to do a retrofitted redway between the Station/Level Crossing and village centre, similar to the one between Kingston Roundabout and Woburn Sands, but appears to have been "lost" on the highways officers' radar.