Demolition plan steps up for landmark Milton Keynes shopping centre built with asbestos
A shopping centre containing asbestos is set to be demolished to make way for a high rise, high density development of flats.
Milton Keynes City Council is this week set to appoint contractors to bulldoze the 1970s-built Brunel Centre building in Bletchley.
The adjacent former Sainsbury's and Wilko sites are also slated for demolition to enable the total 6.4 acre site to be “transformed” as part of the town’s regeneration plan.
The once-thriving Brunel Centre and the Wilko site are owned by the MK City Council’s ‘business arm’ Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), while the former Sainsbury’s store and car park belongs to the council itself.
A public consultation about the future of the site was held in 2023 and the following year, in February 2024, the council announced asbestos had been found with the Brunel Centre structure.
They stated at the time: "A survey undertaken by the council has identified extensive asbestos-containing materials within the building. These materials have been disrupted by vandalism and break-ins… Demolition of the building is urgently required as repeated vandalism is causing a health and safety concern.”
This week the city council announced it will take a formal decision about contractors at a meeting to be held next week. If approved, procurement would begin in September, with demolition works expected to start in phases later this year.
The project is one of the flagship schemes in the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Deal programme and represents a key milestone in the city council's long-term plans to transform the area, set out in its Bletchley and Fenny Stratford 2050 vision.
And the demolition would pave the way for future redevelopment of the site, creating new investment to bring about a more “vibrant and attractive town centre”, says the council.
Their spokesperson said: “The Brunel Centre and former Wilko building have become increasingly outdated and are no longer suited to modern commercial needs. Their removal is seen as a key step towards bringing forward the next phase of regeneration in the heart of Bletchley.”
They promised: “The contractors will meet with nearby residents and businesses to explain how they will keep the demolition safe.”
Councillor Ed Hume, Cabinet member for Housing and Bletchley Town Deal, said: "This is a major milestone in the transformation of Bletchley. The Town Deal programme is helping us unlock significant opportunities across the town centre, and this project is an important part of that vision. As East West Rail enhances Bletchley's role as a strategic transport hub, we're determined to ensure the town centre is ready to seize the opportunities that brings.
"Demolishing these outdated buildings will help unlock future investment and create something new that residents can be proud of."
According to the blueprint, the final development will be “well-designed, mixed use and high density” and include leisure outlets.
The plan states: "There is scope to build new homes at higher densities and above shops and offices to create a more vibrant mix of uses.”
Though no heights are mentioned, the plan states: “Taller buildings will be sought that capitalise on Central Bletchley’s sustainable location and build on the density policy within Plan:MK policy.”
The Brunel Centre was built in 1975 by the former Milton Keynes Development Corporation and was originally envisioned to be an iconic urban structure.
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