David Lock Associates Ltd

Last Tuesday Dave Akam and I had the pleasure of giving a lecture/workshop on Public Engagement to MSc Urban and Regional Planning students at the University of Birmingham. During this 2 hour slot we discussed an introduction to Public Engagement in the planning sector (both in terms of the statutory requirements and the opportunities that might arise) as well as a comparison of the 'traditional' methods against the Post-Covid era, and how this has transformed the way we engage with local stakeholders. We also highlighted the challenges of Public Engagement and how it is vital that as many voices are heard from a broad range of residents. As part of the presentation, we then led a workshop with the students using our in-house Engagement tool, with the catchy acronym of CHLOE. This software is an accessible and interactive way of understanding how masterplanning works and the constraints and targets that must be met. CHLOE is a tool we often use at consultation and workshop events for our projects at David Lock Associates Ltd, but is also a very useful way of introducing Town Planning and Urban Design to students of all ages. The students brought incredible energy and insight, and their group discussions produced some outstanding ideas. The future of planning is in good hands! Thank you to Adam Sheppard for giving us this opportunity, we can't wait to be back next year. #PublicEngagement #UrbanPlanning #FuturePlanners #UniversityOfBirmingham #CommunityEngagement #TownPlanning

Delighted to hear that the Hemel Garden Communities Framework Plan has been shortlisted in the Planning Magazine awards https://lnkd.in/e6zmh5Hx The Framework Plan is the outcome of partnership working over several years between three local authorities, Hemel Garden Communities, multiple land owners and stakeholders. Its purpose is to test the viability and deliverability of emerging local plan policies for an 11,000 dwelling garden community spanning numerous land ownerships and two local authority boundaries, which is no mean feat! The outputs have informed the St Albans and Dacorum local plans, which are now each submitted for examination, and will form the basis of spatial coordination of essential infrastructure, green infrastructure and new homes over a 20-30 year period through SPDs and ongoing partnership working. Whether the Framework Plan is selected for an award or not, it represents a major win for planning and masterplanning at scale as an intrinsic part of the plan making process. At David Lock Associates Ltd we have developed a tried and tested methodology for this type of project, refined over many years of collaboration with local authorities and landowners. We help to build confidence around strategic site allocations, put creative masterplanning at the fore, and support the subsequent planning and delivery of homes. Looking forward to seeing how this one progresses.

I recently spotted some self-driving shuttles in Milton Keynes. While I’m not sure how to hop on one yet, it got me thinking... Milton Keynes is and always has been a city of experimentation, designed around a grid system that makes it the perfect test base for new innovations like Starship delivery robots to trundle around. Will this next step into autonomous public transport be a revolution or just another nice idea that doesn’t work at scale? The StreetCAV project is trialling the shuttles as part of a wider push towards smarter, more connected, and more sustainable mobility. It’s an idea we explored in the MK2050 Strategic Growth Study, regarding how shifting from personal mobility to shared, smart transport can create a seamless network for first/last-mile travel. However, there are still questions about how successful these will be and whether shuttles can be a game-changer in shifting people away from personal car use. 🚀 There’s clear potential: better reliability, fewer delays, and improved accessibility. 🤔 But success depends on more: investment in infrastructure, multimodal integration, and, crucially, public adoption. Milton Keynes is once again at the forefront of innovation, but their success will depend on how well they scale, integrate, and win public trust. So, is this a transformative moment for public transport or just another trial? Time will tell—but it’s definitely one to watch! I’ve shared my full thoughts in a recent think piece for the David Lock Associates Ltd website; check it out here: https://lnkd.in/e99-Dhy2 #UrbanMobility #AutonomousVehicles #MiltonKeynes #TransportPlanning #SmartCities

Join us and Sport England, on Wednesday 16 April, for an Active Travel England webinar: Spotlight on the Active Design Guide! This session is for town planners, urban designers, and developers, and will explore how the Active Design principles help professionals integrate physical activity into neighbourhoods. Joseph Carr and Owen Reading, alongside #SportEngland, will discuss why the guide was developed, how the principles can be applied to create active environments and the role it plays in supporting active travel in the community. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eTD_MKGQ #ActiveDesign #ActiveTravel #ActiveEnvironments #Engagement #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #TownPlanning #HealthyCommunities 

Very pleased to represent David Lock Associates Ltd as sponsors at the Milton Keynes Umbrella Project launch event at Midsummer Place on Saturday. Chilly morning, but the sun obliged and shone bright! Fantastic and inspiring insights in raising awareness of neurodiversity. If you are in Central MK, then pop along and show your support. https://lnkd.in/evVZbhSh

Exciting progress for the Wellcome Genome Campus as plans for the next phase of expansion have been submitted! This milestone is the next step in growing and delivering the innovative, world class life science campus community.   The application includes proposals for two new exemplary research buildings, delivering over 20,000m² of flexible research space, alongside pub and restaurant facilities to create a vibrant hub for work and leisure. This phase will play a major role in connecting the wider expansion with the existing campus, acting as a gateway. The application is now under consultation, with a decision expected in the coming months and work set to start on site later this year. You can read more about our work and the expansion campus expansion on our website: https://lnkd.in/eE3ARhWV   #LifeSciences #Placemaking #TownPlanning #WellcomeGenomeCampus #ResearchInnovation #PlanningApplication

The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is ‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.’ While our work helps shape places for people to live, work, and thrive, we also recognise that not everyone has access to safe and supportive spaces. That’s why this year, we are proud to spotlight and support MK-ACT (Milton Keynes Women's Aid), a Milton Keynes based charity providing essential support to individuals and families affected by domestic abuse. Their work helps people find safety, security, and gives them the support they need to rebuild their lives. People and communities are at the heart of everything we do. As a practice, we understand that the places we create and communities we shape must work for everyone, ensuring equality, accessibility, and opportunity for all. #IWD2025 #Community #UrbanDesign #TownPlanning #Equality #MKACT #MiltonKeynes #PlaceMaking

Many of you that know me will know that this is not really my thing, but its probably about time to start talking about the fantastic work and projects I have had the privilege of being involved in a little more, so here goes... Throughout my career at David Lock Associates Ltd, I have had the pleasure in continuing our longstanding work with Sport England, supporting their mission to ensure activity is embedded into the places we live, work, and play. For nigh on 20 years, we have assisted with all things 'Active Design', working on the guidance itself, and a myriad of efforts in enhancing and disseminating its message. Over the last few months, we have been working on a new set of 'Illustrative Place' examples that bring the Active Design principles to life. These have recently been published. As planners and urban designers, we know that great places don’t just happen, they’re created through a commitment to high-quality design, policy, and evidence-led thinking. The new illustrative places provide clear, adaptable examples of how best practice can be applied in real-world developments. These are not just aspirational visions, but provide clear design interventions which outline how Active Design principles should be embedded into planning and placemaking across the country. These resources are now live on the Sport England website, check them out and see how they can be applied to your projects: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eJXXWavv   #ActiveDesign #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #SportEngland #HealthyPlaces #PlanningForPeople

#Associate, Owen Reading has taken a look at why the UK struggles to deliver critical infrastructure on time and at cost, and talks about how the £100m #HS2 bat tunnel is just a symptom of a bigger problem. You can read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/e3bwc7_D #Infrastructure #Delivery #UrbanDesign #TownPlanning #Transport #PublicTransport #UKDevelopment #HousingCrisis #BuiltEnvironment #FutureCities #Engineering

We are so glad we could support this effort, and well done to the team for completing such a great challenge for such a great cause! Thanks for letting us be a part of your journey!