Santander begins work on £150m state-of-the-art hub in Milton Keynes

Work has now begun on the new office which will be home to more than 6,000 employees and will bring together staff from the bank’s existing office buildings into one location.

Santander chief executive Nathan Bostock, alongside Iain Stewart MP for Milton Keynes South, took part in a ground-breaking ceremony at the new site.

Work on the building - which will be known as Unity Place following a staff competition - follows Santander’s £30million investment in MK:U, the UK’s first university focused on digital skills, which is due to open a year later in 2023.

Mr Bostock said: “We’re very excited to be starting work on Unity Place, a major investment in Milton Keynes, reflecting our long-term commitment to the area. Milton Keynes is already one the UK’s leading technology centres and with a number of innovative education and training providers on our doorstep, we hope it will be a real magnet for technology talent.

“Once complete, the campus will be a state-of-the-art workplace which reflects our culture and our vision for the future. It will be a world-class home for Santander which both our colleagues and the local community can take pride in.”

Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South, said: “This investment is a huge vote of confidence in MK and will keep us at the heart of technology and innovation. I look forward to working with Santander to see this exciting project delivered.”

Features of the planned new office include:

* An open ground floor with world class facilities available to members of public

* A range of health facilities including a fitness centre, cycle storage, and an employee rooftop walking and running track

* Parking for more than 900 cars and an additional 560 secure cycle parking spaces

The day-to-day operation of the building will also be supported by a dedicated campus app, allowing users to book and manage facilities and keep up-to-date with upcoming events.