Milton Keynes City Council is set to formally support the Open University’s Campus 2030 project, through which it is exploring the opportunity to relocate to Central Milton Keynes, alongside the potential for providing in-person courses for students.
The city council’s Cabinet will consider its support for the project when it meets on 7 November.
Creating a large city centre undergraduate university has been a long-held ambition for Milton Keynes, giving local school leavers an opportunity for higher education close to home, as well as attracting other talented young people to the city. Opening a university typically brings significant economic benefits, as well as enhancing an area’s leisure and culture.
Earlier this year, the Open University began developing a business case that considers, among other options, a move of the OU’s campus to Central Milton Keynes from its current base in Walton Hall. This business case will be put to its University Council in July 2024.
Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), the company owned by the city council to develop MKDP land assets, is working closely with the Open University to facilitate the business case development.
“The Open University recently approached Milton Keynes City Council and requested formal support to help them progress their Campus 2030 business case. Milton Keynes is very proud to be the home of the Open University who have been the gateway to so many people from around the world to achieve their ambition for more than 50 years.
“If the OU’s business case ultimately supports a move to the city centre, it would have a very significant and positive impact – for local students, and in terms of economic and cultural development, and it would give a new vitality to the centre. A thriving city centre university campus would be a fantastic addition to our forward-thinking city.”