GRAHAM has commenced work to transform a former market site in Milton Keynes into a thriving new residential hub.
The £76.8m scheme in Wolverton, which GRAHAM is delivering in partnership with Milton Keynes City Council and urban developer, TOWN, will deliver a vibrant mixed-use development, comprising 115 new homes, alongside community and commercial spaces.
Plans include a mix of private and affordable homes, apartments across six blocks, and a specialist cohousing community for older residents. It will also feature nine ground-floor retail units, a dedicated community space, and extensive public realm improvements, including landscaping, walking paths, a public toilet, cycle routes, and a Brompton Bike Hub. GRAHAM will also reinstate road infrastructure between Radcliffe Street, The Square and Church Street, where the Agora Centre once stood, to ensure accessibility to the new development.
Once a well-known indoor market and community hub, the Agora Centre played a central role within the town until its use declined in the late 2010s, and it was demolished in 2023.
To mark work starting on site, yesterday GRAHAM welcomed guests to a groundbreaking ceremony.
Mark Lynch, Managing Director – Building South, GRAHAM, said:
The Agora regeneration project will play a key role in supporting Wolverton for years to come, and we’re pleased to partner with Milton Keynes City Council once again to deliver such a transformative development.
GRAHAM is well-versed in delivering projects of this magnitude, and our team is proud to be on site, delivering much needed, high-quality homes and community spaces that will support long-term regeneration plans for the town.
Deputy Leader of MK City Council, Cllr Lauren Townsend, said:
The regeneration of the Agora site is a truly important moment for Wolverton and the wider city. Despite the challenges along the way, it has been shaped and strengthened by the voices, ideas and support of the local community, whose passion and commitment have helped bring these plans to life. This milestone shows what we can achieve together, with new homes, opportunities and a renewed town centre for Wolverton and the wider city.
GRAHAM was awarded the construction contract through the Major Works Framework that’s managed by Pagabo.
Ben Jones, Regional Director – South of England, Pagabo, said:
It’s fantastic to see work now underway on the regeneration of the Agora site, a project that will deliver lasting benefits for Wolverton and its residents. This development demonstrates the positive impact that strong collaboration between the public and private sectors can achieve, creating new homes, supporting local businesses and enhancing public spaces for the community. We’re proud to have supported Milton Keynes City Council in bringing forward this important regeneration project and look forward to seeing the transformation take shape over the coming months.
GRAHAM also has a longstanding partnership with Milton Keynes City Council, having recently delivered The Lakes Estate, an £75 million regeneration project, which delivered almost 200 new homes in Bletchley.