Milton Keynes is a magnet for growing tech companies - and available, high-quality commercial property is just one reason why

There's rarely one single factor that makes a place the location of choice for businesses in a particular sector, and Milton Keynes is no exception. The city is distinguished by its large, skilled tech workforce, leading-edge tech companies, and unbeaten digital and transport connectivity. But these businesses also need property solutions that satisfy their exacting requirements.  

Tech companies demand high-quality accommodation 

Growing tech companies typically demand high-quality premises - to reflect their premium brands and attract discerning talent. Their accommodation must be sustainable and energy efficient - to support profitability and environmental commitments. It must be flexible - to enable collaborative, individual and hybrid working. And it must be salubrious, with workforce-focused facilities and accessible amenities - to promote productivity and wellbeing. 

Property solutions for tech businesses of all sizes 

Tech companies at different stages of growth have different requirements, and Milton Keynes has them covered. For early-stage businesses, the city offers a range of serviced offices and co-working spaces - for example x+why (Unity Place) and Co Space MK  - with shared facilities and flexible terms. Business incubators and accelerators in the city or nearby, for example Barclays Eagle Labs Cranfield, provide expert business and innovation support, as well as serviced accommodation. 

For growing businesses with larger property requirements, Central Milton Keynes offers an extensive portfolio. More than 800,000 sq ft of office accommodation is currently available,² with grade-A space including Silbury House (17,700 sq ft) and Northgate House (34,670 sq ft) in Central Milton Keynes, to be complemented by The Pinnacle (66,400 sq ft) from late 2025. Available, out-of-town prime office properties currently include Victory House, The Park (25,540 sq ft).  

Designed for productivity, sustainability and wellbeing 

Building specifications typically include premium, design-led interiors and furnishings, flexible spaces for team or quiet working, and wellbeing facilities including showers and cycle storage - to enable active travel to and from work. Sustainability features include BREEAM 'excellent' efficiency ratings and electric vehicle charging. Offices located in Central Milton Keynes provide employees with direct access to shops, restaurants, cafes and culture, as well as Milton Keynes Central station, enabling access to London, for example, in just 32 minutes.³ 

Premium properties, with significant cost advantages 

So, there's no doubt that Milton Keynes' properties can deliver quality and added value for growing tech businesses. But what about saving them money? The fact is that property is typically the second largest fixed cost for tech businesses, after people, so cost efficiency is essential. And Milton Keynes delivers on this measure too, although not for the reason you might expect.  

If we compare Milton Keynes to Oxford, the difference in commercial property costs is striking. Prime office rents in Oxford are currently £63 per sq ft, compared with just £30 in Milton Keynes - a massive saving of 52%.²  But this isn't because Milton Keynes is any kind of 'low-cost' location - the presence of businesses ranging from Santander's Digital Hub (Fintech) to Aiimi (AI) and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (high-performance engineering) stands as testament to its premium credentials.  

The benefits of being ‘better by design’  

The reason for Milton Keynes' relative affordability is something else; something distinctively 'Milton Keynes'. With its famous grid system, this is a new city that was planned and designed, from the very beginning, to enable efficient, cost-effective development, with abundant space for business growth. In contrast with crowded cities like Oxford and Cambridge, this inevitably increases the supply and deliverability of commercial land and property, with a favorable effect on costs.  

At the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor 

And this explains Milton Keynes' strategic position - you could say its role - at the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. In the recent past, too many tech businesses emerging from Oxford and Cambridge have been lost to the region (and indeed the UK) at the point of scale-up. The Oxford to Cambridge Partnership understands this, and believes that the retention of businesses in growth-oriented locations like Milton Keynes could add £50 billion to regional GVA in the next few years.⁴ For businesses currently based in Oxford, this growth opportunity is further enhanced by the delivery of East West Rail, which will cut public transport journey times between Oxford and Milton Keynes from almost 2 hours to just 45 minutes.  

The Milton Keynes proposition to tech businesses, and in particular those originating in Oxford, is a powerful one: stay in your home region, grow without compromise in a UK-leading tech hub, and save money while you're doing it. 

(2) LSH, Q1 2025; (3) Google Maps, 2025;