Milton Keynes New Town in Buckinghamshire is one of the last post war New Towns to be constructed. Designed by the then, Milton Keynes Development Corporation MK was designated a New Town in the third and last wave of post war new towns 1967-70. Unique to its predecessors it is a bit of a “Marmite” place, its likely you either love it or hate it. Personally I find it fascinating with its highs, such as the shopping centre and its lows, some of the rather bleak and run down housing districts. Its laid out on a large irregular (wobbly) grid of roads linked by numerous roundabouts. Within each grid are different housing districts with varied styles and periods of housing, some more successful than others. There’s also a big network, called, The Redways, of footpaths/cycle routes which pass under the road networks with the infamous underpasses. However despite these routes some of which can feel a bit isolated and threatening if your on foot, MK is really a place to own a car or at least a bike if your in an outer housing zone. Buses seem to be somewhat rare, spotted very few on my visits so far. MK is also as it reputation suggests one of the greenest Towns/cities in the UK. There were very memorable advertising campaigns to entice people to move to MK, one of the most memorable from 1984 being the red balloon advert using music by Michael Nyman and with its catchline: Wouldn’t it be nice if all cities were like Milton Keynes…I will leave that to you to decide if you visit…..Clearly things have changed since construction. check out the advert on YouTube. In the photo over: The South office block wing next to the main station, completed early to mid 1980,s. . Still have more photos to add to this folder and upcoming visits this year!
The South Block, next to the railway station. Completed early to mid 1980's
The South Block, next to the railway station. Completed early to mid 1980's
The South Block, next to the railway station. Completed early to mid 1980's
The Central Block, next to the railway station.
The Central & North Block, next to the railway station. Completed early to mid 1980's
The Shopping Centre, (now known as the centre:mk) Grade II listed. Opened by Margaret Thatcher in 1979. The centre is unusually, by todays standards, set out in a very long rectangle with two parallel indoor malls that connect with a series of multifunctional squares in between. Photo above is of the outdoor square.
The Shopping Centre, (now known as the centre:mk) Grade II listed. Opened by Margaret Thatcher in 1979. The centre is unusually set out in a very long rectangle with two parallel indoor malls that connect with a series of square in between. Photo above, glazing detail.
The Shopping Centre, glazing detail.
The old Bus Station. No longer in use. 1982-3
The old Bus Station. No longer in use. 1982-3
The old Bus Station. No longer in use. 1982-3
The old Bus Station. No longer in use. 1982-3. Waiting area.
Mirrored car park North of the main station. Likely to be early to mid 1980,s
Mirrored car park North of the main station. Likely to be early to mid 1980,s
Tinkers bridge Housing, South MK. a housing area just Set just East of Netherfield. Composed of various sizes of interesting terraced houses with steep mono pitch roofs that go down to the top of the ground floor on the rear elevations. Apparently built as temporary housing but still here. Really interesting houses which have staircases that go up to the first floor from the living room at the rear under the eaves. Like most original houses in MK they have had window & door modifications but some finishes remain such as the rust coloured and pale green cladding in these photos. Each house also has its own separate carport which is set forward from the houses. Completed around 1973.
Tinkers Bridge Housing. the rust & green coloured cladding is original.
Tinkers Bridge Housing. Green and rust coloured cladding is original.
Tinkers Bridge Housing. Right to buyers, Stone cladding option! Dilapidated car ports in the foreground.
Netherfield Housing area is a large housing zone in the South of MK. Its one of the most interesting designs of the original New Town constructions. All the houses from single Storey to 3 Storey lie with the undulating landscape but all have their roof levels lining through at the same height, so the heights of the houses are mostly dictated by their position within the landscape. The houses all have the characteristic concrete party wall fin that neatly divides up the front facades. Virtually every facade has been altered with finishes, new windows & doors. I could not find any property that still had all of its original features. However its quite fun to check out all the alterations which are neatly separated by the projecting fins. If you do an image search you will spot how they looked originally, which is sad to see as they looked great! The front gardens were never enclosed with fences or walls but with many houses sold as a result of Right to Buy, many have now been enclosed..The area does feel somewhat run down but could certainly be improved with the will and of course the cash!… It seems that sadly the area has always had issues and that still seems to be the case today. Photo above: Crashed red sofa! in front of townhouses, this was a few years ago so hope its still not there!?
Left house morphing into "Span style" with hanging tiles added. Right, original aluminium cladding,.
Two storey housing
Two storey housing
single storey housing
two to one storey housing
three to two storey Houses
Two storey housing . The left hand one is I believe a council alteration as its been implemented on many houses.
Two storey housing. Added porch to the right hand side which is quite a common occurrence..
Extreme changes to the right! Just needs a pediment added!
End of terrace unit which is actually flats. Original metal finish but new windows.
End of terrace unit which is actually flats. Original metal cladding.
End of terrace unit which is actually flats. Original metal cladding.