Community Reserve Sites

What is a Community Reserve Site?

'Community Reserve Sites’ (CRSs) refer to the plots of land scattered throughout Milton Keynes that were gifted to the Milton Keynes Community Foundation by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. The Foundation's property company, MK Community Properties Ltd, manages the sites with a view to the long-term development of the area, ensuring that the sites are used appropriately to benefit the local community and ensuring that the current and future needs of the voluntary sector are met. All surpluses from MK Community Properties Ltd are passed to the Foundation to support grant making to the voluntary and community sector.

MK Community Properties currently owns 45 Community Reserve Sites set aside for community use, that can be purchased and developed by not-for-profit organisations, the local authority groups or charities working for the benefit of the people of Milton Keynes. Groups may be eligible to purchase a Community Reserve Site at not less than 25% of the market rate for land, provided that they can show that their development of a site would be for community use i.e. charitable use or other non-commercial or non-residential use for the benefit of the community of Milton Keynes.

A full list of Community Reserve Sites is available for download here.

I’ve seen that there’s a Community Reserve Site near my house – what does this mean for me?

Many Community Reserve Sites are as yet undeveloped plots. MK Community Properties ensure that the plots are kept in a reasonable state of repair until purchased by a suitable non-profit group. Once a group has successfully applied to purchase a site from MK Community Properties, the group will have to go through the usual planning application procedures for the building itself. Possible developments of a Community Reserve Site include the headquarters of a charity, community centres, faith-based buildings that run community activities and centres, buildings that are used for community activities such as scouts and guides, buildings providing services for people with disabilities or providing activities for older people.

Case studies

If you would like to see how a Community Reserve Site can be developed, please take a look at our case studies below:

Spinal Injuries Association - SIA House

St Francis' Children's Society - Collis House

If you have any queries about the current or future development of a Community Reserve Site in your neighbourhood please contact the Grants Team on 01908 690276 or e-mail information@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk