MyMiltonKeynes BID Appoints Applied Information Group to Deliver City Centre Wayfinding Strategy

MyMiltonKeynes BID has appointed leading urban wayfinding consultancy Applied Information Group to develop a new Wayfinding Strategy for Milton Keynes City Centre.

The appointment follows a competitive procurement process and marks the start of a major piece of strategic work that will help shape how people navigate, experience and explore Central Milton Keynes in the years ahead.

The commission comes at a pivotal moment for the city. Significant growth is planned both within Milton Keynes and across the wider region, including new housing, the development of a major city centre entertainment venue and the arrival of Universal UK. Together, these changes are expected to bring new visitors, new audiences and evolving patterns of movement into the city centre.

The project will take a forward-looking approach, examining how wayfinding can support footfall, improve visitor experience, strengthen connectivity between destinations and help visitors make the most of everything the city has to offer.

Jill Farnsworth, Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes BID, said: "The city is entering a period of substantial expansion and change. Large-scale developments within Milton Keynes and across the wider region will bring new visitors into the city centre, creating a significant opportunity to review how we communicate what Milton Keynes has to offer to local, national and even international audiences.

“Against this backdrop of increasing footfall, now is the perfect time to assess the role that effective wayfinding can play in enhancing the visitor experience and raise awareness of what the city has to offer, giving people the confidence to explore and make the most of our city.

“Applied’s experience of delivering complex, large-scale wayfinding strategies, combined with their understanding of how people move through and experience places, gave us confidence that they can help us create something genuinely transformational for Milton Keynes."

Applied is internationally recognised for its work helping cities, transport networks and destinations become easier to navigate and understand. Its portfolio includes major projects such as Legible London, the capital's pioneering pedestrian wayfinding system and Legible Leeds, which has helped improve navigation and connectivity across the city centre.

The consultancy will work with MyMiltonKeynes BID, Milton Keynes City Council and other stakeholders to understand movement patterns, identify barriers to exploration and develop a future-proof framework that can guide future investment and decision making.

Richard Simón, Partner and Director of Planning at Applied, said: “Milton Keynes is one of the UK's most distinctive and ambitious cities, and it is entering a fascinating period of growth and change. The city already has a unique structure, identity and network of destinations, but there is a real opportunity to help people better understand how these connect and how they can be experienced.

“Great wayfinding is about far more than signs. It helps people build confidence, discover new places and create stronger connections with a city. We are excited to be working with MyMiltonKeynes BID and partners to develop a strategy that supports Milton Keynes' future ambitions while making it easier and more enjoyable for people to explore."

The appointment of Applied follows the recent appointment of Savills to undertake an Impact and Opportunity Study examining how Universal UK could influence Milton Keynes City Centre. Together, the projects reflect a growing commitment by MyMiltonKeynes BID to commission strategic work that helps businesses prepare for and benefit from the opportunities ahead.

Jill added: "This is exactly where a BID can add value. By bringing businesses together, commissioning independent expertise and creating the evidence base needed to support informed decision-making, we can help ensure the city centre is ready for the opportunities ahead.  These projects are about being proactive rather than reactive. As Milton Keynes grows and changes, it is important that the business community has a voice in shaping that future and that we are prepared to invest in the work needed to turn opportunity into action”.

The appointments of Savills and Applied are strong examples of the more strategic role the BID intends to play in the years ahead – helping to shape the future of the city centre, supporting informed decisions and ensuring businesses are at the heart of conversations about growth, investment and change.

The Wayfinding Strategy is expected to be completed later this year, with findings shared with key stakeholders to help inform future investment and improvements across Milton Keynes City Centre.