Solstice Apartments on Silbury Boulevard
Solstice Apartments, a 22 million pound build-to-rent development on Silbury Boulevard in central Milton Keynes, was delivered by BREE Construction. Brought forward by the High Street Group, the scheme was completed and handed to Grainger plc, marking the housebuilder's first build-to-rent development delivered for the operator.
The 139 apartments occupy a prominent city-centre position, with ground-floor retail units completing alongside the homes to add activity at street level. The scheme was conceived as part of an effort to create new sustainable communities in the heart of Milton Keynes, bringing professionally managed rental homes to a central location. The completion of Solstice Apartments marked an important step for both the High Street Group and Grainger plc, establishing a model for further build-to-rent delivery and bringing new managed homes to the centre of Milton Keynes.
Design and amenities
Interiors were designed by Studio Moren around a summer solstice and sun-path concept that draws on the character of the neighbourhood, featuring a polished brass reception and a mezzanine layout. The result is a distinctive amenity offer that sets the tone for the rental community and reflects a careful, story-led approach to the design.
The 139 apartments are arranged to make the most of the central Milton Keynes setting, with commercial units at ground level helping to knit the building into Silbury Boulevard. Together, the homes and ground-floor uses give the scheme an active presence on one of the city's main boulevards.
A first for smart connections
The scheme delivered the UK's first SMETS2 smart metering new connections, with IMServ working alongside BREE and Pozitive Energy to connect all 139 apartments, a notable first-of-its-kind milestone for new-build residential delivery and an example of the scheme's forward-looking approach to energy and metering.
Construction ran from 2018 to 2020, with the completed scheme handed to Grainger plc following a build of around two years. Now in operation, Solstice Apartments provides a high-quality rental offer in the centre of Milton Keynes.
