Lloyds Court was the first site to be developed in Central Milton Keynes (CMK) and once completed in 1975, it stood out in sketched out dirt grid running through the surrounding fields. In many ways, Lloyds Court represents the birth of Milton Keynes in how it both broke the ground for building the city centre but also in its style, design language, public art and construction. Today, it is a focus for the public realm heritage of the city where you can see original materials and street furniture being preserved. The conservation work here protects and tells the stories of the city’s origins for future generations.

Lloyds Court, originally coined D.1.4, after the grid location that CMK was divided into, was envisioned to accommodate a mix of commercial users, much as you see it today. Lloyds Bank funded its construction and still occupy part of the site today. Joining the bank were retail units, offices for Milton Keynes Development Corporation, a Chinese restaurant and a pub – later named The Starting Gate.