Paul Orchard-Lisle

Healy & Baker’s (H & B) primary business when Paul joined was commercial valuations and lettings of properties for retailers. He worked for several years with a partner who was a ‘superb negotiator’. In 1970, Paul says: ‘MK Shopping Centre was put out to a ‘Beauty Parade’ tender contest…we were one of five firms submitting… my father did the submission.’ When H & B were interviewed, Paul recalls that as one of a team of only two (with his father), he felt petrified, but ‘the enthusiasm of MKDC’s team (Lord Campbell, Alan Ashton and Bill Jowett) was very considerable…and it was exciting.’ A week later their bid was accepted; they joined the MKDC team settling the content, design & layout of the building, and letting the shop spaces to retailers. Paul worked closely with Stuart Mosscrop: ‘an excellent architect’, and David Jamieson, engineer, to adjust the initial road layout to ensure that the million square feet of shopping could be contained in one building.

Paul recalls early design problems: service vehicle access and parking. He talks of ‘desire lines’ in a shopping mall aiding their decisions on overall layout. Paul contributed knowledge of mixes of shop sizes and types to discussions with MKDC staff (Peter Green, Alan Ashton and Bob Hill). His role was then to meet potential tenants to obtain their requirements, discuss them with MKDC Officers, and reach an agreed offer. Paul had a model of the building in his London office, to aid discussions. After 5-7 years, Postel were found as co-funders of the building and hey engaged Bernard Thorpe and partners to ensure the lettings serviced the Postel fund’s investment. Paul describes major lettings like John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. When all were complete, there was no H & B celebration; Paul says ‘we all just went home …we earned £2,000,000 from letting it; in those days a lot of money’. Shortly after the building first opened, Paul visited and found ‘the place was humming’; he had a feeling of immense relief. He is probably most proud of the John Lewis letting, although he had a minor part in this. With hindsight, Paul thinks that CMK parking could have been better, and that there are now too many roundabouts. But compared with other new towns, Paul believes: ‘we got it right …even the concrete cows – they got lots of attention!’