To coincide with World Green Roof Day (6th June), developers of MK Gateway have announced its intention to create two new green rooftops, which will engage the local community in the propagation of native plants and see the formation of one of the UK’s highest biosolar roofs.
The plans will see mixed-use developers Socius, First Base and investors Patron Capital, the team behind MK Gateway, extend its collaboration with local living roof specialists, Bridgman & Bridgman. This follows the success of the “live lab” green rooftop ‘meanwhile project’ which was created on the roof of Saxon Court to showcase the benefits of green roofs.
Over 300 people visited the site during the course of the project, which formed part of Milton Keynes Council’s Green Business Recovery Fund, and three YMCA residents were awarded certifications in the installation and maintenance of green roofs as a result of the training they received during that period. Creating an ongoing legacy, the green roof was moved from Saxon Court to the roof of the YMCA in April 2022.
The MK Gateway development will see the retention, refurbishment, and extension of the original Saxon Court building, which will save over 3,750 tonnes of Co2. While the new green rooftop will be installed once this development is complete, local communities will be asked to participate in seed collection workshops to populate the roof with native wildflower.
The MK Gateway site will also see the development of two further buildings including the Village, which will feature a UK first of 11 vertical gardens, along with 288 build to rent apartments.
Through the collaboration with Bridgman & Bridgman, the Village could now potentially feature another first - the UK’s highest biosolar roof. A green roof integrated with solar panels, the biosolar roof will deliver a range of benefits, from generating electricity to supplement powering the Village, reduce the need for air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter, while increasing biodiversity.
Significantly, the creation of the biosolar roof will lower Co2 emissions, capture carbon and reduce the surrounding air temperature.
“We have committed to a range of sustainable initiatives in the development of MK Gateway, all of which supports Milton Keynes Council’s aspirations for a greener, healthier Milton Keynes,” comments Steve Eccles, Project Director, Socius. “Following the success of the initial green roof on Saxon Court, we are therefore delighted to extend our collaboration with Bridgman & Bridgman
which will offer immediate and substantial environmental benefits for Central Milton Keynes and future residents of the Village.”
Chris Bridgman, Managing Partner of Bridgman & Bridgman commented: “The success of the “live lab” green rooftop demonstrated the huge range of benefits living rooftops offer. Green roofs are a vital tool for climate action and, through our ongoing partnership with Socius, we can help make Milton Keynes one of the greenest cities in the World.”
