COMMENT www.businessmk.co.uk www.businessinbedfordshire.co.uk www.business-northants.co.uk January 2019 15 Theo Chalmers Theo Chalmers is managing director of www.urbaneden.org www.vervepr.co.uk Verve Public Relations and e: [email protected] chair of Urban Eden. Tel: 01908 275271 Investment plans promise much to savour

IN THE IMMORTAL words of one J. through at ungodly hours. Highways seemed content to Lennon esq; another year over; a new Another positive development, in plod rather than look for an express one just begun. Despite what you may planning by Highways England, is the way to deliver the route. imagine given my somewhat trenchant East West Expressway between When questioned, a Highways views on those in charge of what and . This is England presenter baldly stated that it happens in this amazing city, not all intended to be a fast road system with is possible that part of the Expressway that awaits us in 2019 and ongoing is few junctions - so not intended for near might be single bad. Some things are good. Of course, local traffic such as parents dropping carriageway. I was shocked, frankly, every change has a potential downside kids off at school - linking Oxford to and thought I had misheard. and sadly not everyone will be happy Cambridge via Milton Keynes. Nevertheless, in my opinion, any with any changes made. This will be a major anchor feature new road taking traffic away from our The already-funded of what has been rather inelegantly ever more busy roads is a good thing. I link restoring the old Varsity Line dubbed the Camkox Corridor. just hope they do not attempt to Santander’s planned £150m campus in . between Oxford and Cambridge via Highways England also describes it as rebrand parts of existing roads such as - which, incidentally I feel “a southern bypass to Milton Keynes, the A421 as the East West Expressway. buildings in Milton Keynes, at 18 is looking to expand the grade II listed should be rebranded Milton Keynes reducing congestion and helping Another positive for Milton Keynes storeys, it will provide ‘affordable on building on its flanks near John Lewis South - is on balance a good thing. support its continued growth”. is the huge amount of investment an average income’ flats to rent only, in to match the rest of the building. However there are still issues with I recently attended a consulation coming in. Clearly the smart money Central Milton Keynes near the station. There really is much to look forward level crossings, at Woburn Sands and meeting organised by Highways feels that Milton Keynes is a vibrant, The new multi-storey car park near to this new year. And while I Bow Brickhill for instance. When high England in Bicester. Between the M1 well connected, exciting city and well John Lewis at centre:mk has opened. acknowledge that not all of it will be speed trains are passing every few and the M40, the government has worth investing in. One new The 250-bedroom with conference without issues or problems, my feeling minutes these will simply not cope and selected a route near to the proposed investment is the £150 million centre Hotel La Tour overlooking is that on balance all the potential proper planning and investment is East-West rail link although the actual technology hub for Santander. There Campbell Park is soon to be problems can be ameliorated with required so that bridges and/or tunnels route is far from clear. This lack of will also be a 256-bedroom Moxy by completed and an Easyhotel inside careful planning and oversight from take the road traffic. clarity prevents them from objecting Marriott hotel, at the corner of Avebury Norfolk/Ashton House is due to Milton Keynes Council, our MPs and Another issue is that those who to planning applications to develop Boulevard and South Fifth Street. welcome guests later this year. central government. They may require bought houses with a quiet, hardly land on this route. Nearby will be another huge The rental flat development on the just the occasional well-aimed kick ever used rail line at the bottom of It may be that the selection of any investment led by Palmer Capital former Wyvale garden centre site from us, the citizens of Milton their gardens are probably in for a route will, in 2019, become ever which is also behind the Moxy Hotel. opposite Xscape will again underscore Keynes, but it is just possible that the rude awakening, literally, when tougher and more expensive to realise. This is Aubrey Place, a 300-flat ‘Build confidence in the future of Milton good will outweigh the bad in 2019. endlessly long freight trains roll I raised this at the meeting but to Rent’ scheme. As the tallest new Keynes. Hermes, owner of centre:mk, Happy new year and cheerio.