The Eastbourne Town centre Area Action Plan (AAP) has been submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration.  The AAP has been produced by DLA for Eastbourne Borough Council and will guide regeneration and development within the town centre until 2027.  The document has received broad support from residents and key stakeholders and considers a range of polices around four key themes:  Supporting a mix of uses; Town Centre identity; Town Centre public realm; and Accessing the Town Centre.  In addition a range of site specific proposals are identified promoting a mix of retail led uses.  The AAP will be considered by an inspector early in the summer and it is anticipated that the document will be adopted later in 2012.

DLA have been commissioned by Portsmouth City Council to produce a master plan for a key part of the City Centre.  The master plan follows on from previous commissions where DLA have worked with the City Council examining the regeneration potential of the area around the Guildhall and Guildhall Square, and also the production of an adopted SPG on the area around Portsmouth and Southsea railway station.  DLA’s work will form part of a wider master plan for the City Centre which is being coordinated by the City Council.  This phase of the work will focus on the area around Commercial Road and land to the north of Market Way which are key retail led, mixed use sites. 

Milton Keynes Council is bidding for city status in a competition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. The Queen is personally involved in making the decision on which place will become a city. 

In support of the bid, a greetings card was sent to Her Majesty The Queen. The front of the card featured a photo by Caroline Brown, a Senior Associate Graphic Designer at David Lock Associates, who also won a photography competition with this image.

The judges felt the shot had a frosty festive theme, and captured a sense of Milton Keynes’ ambitions, reaching for bright skies, and – with enough trees that the Borough could officially be classed a forest - always ready to confound preconceptions.

What a way to end the year on a high. Well done, Caroline.

The final set of satellite dishes has been removed from the Grade II listed BT tower.  The dishes which have been defunct for a number of years since the introduction of fibre optic technology were never-the-less part of the overall appearance of the tower.  DLA obtained listed building consent for the removal of the dishes on behalf of BT which include producing photo montages demonstrating how the tower might appear without them.  The application was supported and approved by the London Borough of Camden.  DLA continue to advise BT on the tower.  Photographs courtesy of the Daily Telegraph showing engineers removing the dishes can be viewed here http://LDN.in/Eis2EE

David Lock Associates’ ambitious master plan for Southampton City Centre has been featured on the front page of the local newspaper.

The Council Leader, Royston Smith said “The Master Plan provides Southampton with a very clear picture as to how the city centre could be shaped, so that it can enjoy a prosperous and exciting future. 

Imagine a Southampton where you get off the train in a world class Station Quarter lined with major businesses.  Imagine a Southampton where all the major new developments are the architectural pinnacle of design in the UK.  A place where the city’s thriving Cultural Quarter links seamlessly with its major business district, historic old town and tourist attractions.  Where green networks of trees and blue networks of water features connect the city centre with its waterfront.  And where the pedestrian and cyclist are given priority. 

This is what this Master Plan will help to deliver.  And perhaps most importantly this Master Plan will guide developers and businesses in the process of opening up the waterfront so our residents finally get to enjoy all the benefits of living in a true maritime city, by becoming a leading waterfront in Europe”.

The master plan will be launched with the City Centre Action Plan for public consultation at the end of January 2012 with a major launch event to follow in March.

For further information please follow the link:

http://www.invest-in-southampton.co.uk/news/southamptonMagazine2011.asp

DLA is delighted to be supporting and sponsoring an exciting and varied programme of arts projects, discussions, performance and screenings at Milton Keynes gallery on Saturday 26th November.  The ‘Afternoon of Events’ includes the unveiling of ‘The Cave’, a major new artwork by artists Heather and Ivan Morrison commissioned for Campbell Park, which has been jointly sponsored by DLA.  In addition, David Lock CBE will contribute towards a panel discussion, Community without Propinquity, which, alongside the rest of the programme, will investigate the existence and formation of community for public activities and explore the roles of contemporary art and communities in New Towns across the globe.  The programme is free for all to participate in and enjoy. For more details visit www.mkgallery.org

Image: Heather and Ivan Morison, Cave, artists' impression, 2011.  Courtesy the artists. 

David Lock Associates have prepared an Options Report for the growth of Petersfield, a market town within the newly designated South Downs National Park.  The report, commissioned jointly by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) and East Hampshire District Council, explores spatial options for the future of the settlement and grapples with the issues of housing and employment growth in the context of the need to protect the special character of the National Park.  The report has been prepared in a transparent way with several opportunities for input from stakeholders and the public at a launch exhibition and two interactive workshops.  The process has involved discussions with a wide range of stakeholders including local businesses and residents groups, landowners and interest groups.  The options have now been published by the SDNPA and Petersfield Town Council has committed to taking the process forward through the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan.

Following a decade of site promotion by David Lock Associates, on behalf of Calthorpe Estates, some four outline permissions to establish a pattern of viable medical and supplementary uses on a heavily constrained site, a raft of adopted design guides and codes together with community consultation outline planning permission has been secured for the second new medical facility on the former site of the BBC Studios in the from of Birmingham’s new £31 million state-of-the-art dental hospital.

The relocation of the city centre hospital to the former BBC Pebble Mill site in Edgbaston is a huge boost for Birmingham, according to the council’s planning committee.  The new School of Dentistry with research and training facilities will sit behind the £160m investment by Circle Health facing Pebble Mill Road in the from of a Private hospital which David Lock Associates secured outline planning permission for a year ago.

Councillor James Hutchings (Cons, Edgbaston) added: “This is a huge improvement on the existing hospital and the location, close to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University of Birmingham, is ideal.  “It is also great to get the Pebble Mill site back into use.”

The outline planning permissions for both hospitals will now be followed with detailed design proposals which dovetail with the recently approved advanced infrastructure provision which is scheduled to commence this winter.

Jim Urwin, with a bit of help from his German Shorthaired Pointer, Boris, is Britain's first ever European canicross champion.  Canicross is cross country running but with racers attached to and pulled along by their dogs - allowing them to reach otherwise unreachable speeds. 

Jim, a Partner at DLA, said “Boris is incredibly fast and strong.  We call him Boris the Bullet.  Boris loves running and it is difficult to tire him out.  But when he gets indoors he usually thinks that he is a lap dog.  This can lead to difficulties given that he weighs 30 kilos!”

The 14th European Canicross Championships were held in southern Poland on 15/16 October.  Jim is the first ever GB European Champions in any class – a real landmark for canicross in this country – and his gold medal was the first medal of any kind for Britain in the mens’ competitions.  This is all very timely given that the Championship for the first time will be held in the UK next October, at Cirencester in Gloucestershire.  Jim and Boris hope to defend their title. 

For more information visit www.canix.co.uk.

David Lock Associates was presented with the Corporate Philanthropy Award for continued commitment to supporting the community at the MK Community Foundation’s 25th Birthday Awards Evening recently. 

The Milton Keynes Community Foundation is a local independent grant-making charity who awards grants in Milton Keynes, to strengthen local communities, create opportunities and tackle issues of disadvantage and exclusion. 

Click here for further information.

David Lock Associates has won an award at the annual PIA Victorian State Awards in Australia for their Plantastic and Designeriffic blog, a forum for promoting urban planning, design and sustainability news from Australia and around the world. One of the few blogs in Australia that is entirely devoted to planning and design issues, the forum has a specific objective of promoting the profession in a positive and engaging manner. 

The Plantastic and Designeriffic blog won the award in the category of Promotion of Planning.  The judges were particularly impressed by the use of 'new' media, the professionalism of the production, and the quality of the images and writing.  True to its objective of reaching a broader audience than planning professionals, the writing style is readily accessible and studiously avoids the use of planning jargon.  To read the blog go to http://dla-plantastic.blogspot.com/

O&H Group and David Lock Associates are currently preparing a Development Framework for The Groves site in Sunderland.  Residents and businesses of Sunderland are being given an opportunity to join the consultation process for a new mixed use development of up-to 650 new homes, commercial and leisure facilities. 

The Groves site is one of Sunderland’s key central regeneration sites, located adjacent to the River Wear at an important future gateway into Sunderland City Centre.

The project is being led by site owners, the O&H Group Ltd www.oandh.com who have a strong track record in delivering new sustainable communities. Mrs Pippa Cheetham from O&H explained, “Over the next few years, there are many initiatives aiming to bring economic growth and regeneration to this part of Sunderland.  O&H are pleased to be part of this at The Groves site but also want to make sure that we listen to what the local community want to achieve as well as delivering environmental improvements for this part of the riverside.  The Development Framework process is the first stage in establishing the future shape of this site”.

The purpose of the Groves Development Framework is to set out a clear and agreed guidance as to how future development will come forward at the site, which will inform future planning applications.

The development team are keen to hear the public’s views on the draft Development Framework.  Consultation on the Framework Plan will take place from 19th August until 26th August. 

See also http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-14588059

East Northamptonshire Council has approved DLA’s outline planning application for Corby Developments (part of Bee Bee Developments) to enable the completion of its 5,100-home Priors Hall urban extension to Corby.  Corby Borough Council had previously granted permission for the 4,360 homes and accompanying land uses within its administrative area, where development is already underway.  East Northamptonshire Council’s approval, which follows its agreement of Cole Jarman’s noise control strategy for the adjacent Rockingham Motor Speedway, enables the completion of this cross-boundary urban extension by permitting the balance of the proposed development.  DLA’s master plan for Priors Hall was commended by CABE and, on that part of the site within Corby Borough, an academy (secondary school), an enterprise centre and a substantial amount of high quality housing has already been built.

Eastbourne is an attractive, Victorian seaside town that has a strong tourism offer but is also home to a population of almost 100,000 residents.  The town centre provides an important focus of activity not only for residents but also visitors, tourists and workers.  Although the town centre has many strong attributes it underperforms, particularly in the retail sector, relative to other comparably sized towns. 

Eastbourne Borough Council commissioned David Lock Associates to produce an Area Action Plan (AAP) for the town centre in order to identify key regeneration opportunities and encourage a greater mix of uses.  The pre-submission version of the Eastbourne Town Centre Area Action Plan was launched on the 21st July.  Over the summer comments will be invited from stakeholders and everyone with an interest in the town centre.  The AAP establishes an overarching Vision for the town centre and covers a range of key policies around four main themes: supporting a mix of uses; town centre identity; public realm; and accessing the town centre.  It also identifies five Development Opportunity Sites as well as introducing a new structure for the town centre around distinct character areas.  After comments have been considered the AAP will be submitted to the Secretary of State later in the year and DLA will support the Borough Council through the subsequent inquiry process. 

David Lock Associates (DLA) today welcomed the timely publication of the Town and Country Planning Association’s report ‘Re-imagining Garden Cities for the 21st Century’.  DLA’s managing director Lawrence Revill said “we see real value in a strong campaign to revive the country’s skills in new town development at a time of deepening housing crisis”.  DLA’s innovative work in delivering major housing growth and supporting infrastructure at Hampton, Peterborough’s southern township, is cited as best practice in the TCPA report. 

The report argues that the application of garden city principles could help overcome many of the problems and barriers associated with the building of new communities which, it suggests, derive from reaction to poorly designed development with inadequate infrastructure provision.  Three key issues are identified that must be addressed if the benefits of comprehensively planned new communities are to be realised: adopting an effective governance structure; getting the master plan right; and finding the right investment model.  

The report also coincides with the start of development on-site at Cranbrook, a new settlement near Exeter where DLA are lead planners and master planners having supported the project for 15 years.  Cranbrook will initially be home to a new community of around 6,500 residents supported by strong forward investment in infrastructure provision. 

DLA have won a new commission from Portsmouth City Council.  The project will examine the potential of the Civic Quarter of the city centre focused around the Civic Offices and Guildhall Square drawing up a master plan for area that will inform a wider city centre master plan. 

The Civic Quarter is a significant location with Guildhall Square being one of the principal urban spaces in the city and a focus for pedestrian movement and activity.  The area adjoins Portsmouth’s main railway station and there are linkages to other parts of the city, including the proposed retail led Northern Quarter and the thriving Gunwharf Quay, which could be better exploited.  The project will also consider the future of the Civic Offices and the development or redevelopment potential of other sites in the area.  The commission follows previous successful work undertaken by DLA for the City Council on the adopted Station Square and Station Street SPD which immediately adjoins the Civic Quarter.  DLA also worked on the initial planning and regeneration of Gunwharf Quay which is now a vibrant, mixed-use quarter of the city. 

David Lock Associates has secured planning permission for a Bulk Aggregates Import Terminal as part of a broader master plan for the redevelopment of Lafarge Cement UK’s Northfleet Works site in Gravesham, Kent.  The terminal, the first aggregate import facility with covered storage in the UK, will provide for the storage and processing of crushed rock, sand and gravel.  The facility will handle up to 3 million tonnes of crushed rock, sand and gravel and ready mixed cement per annum.  Material will be imported by boat and distributed from the site by rail, river and road. 

In the short term, the rail infrastructure serving the terminal will be developed for use in the construction of Crossrail as part of a tunnelling and logistics facility.  The Bulk Aggregates Import Terminal will be implemented once Crossrail vacate the site.

DLA have been commissioned by East Hampshire District Council and the newly formed South Downs National Park Authority to prepare a Spatial Strategy for the market town of Petersfield: The Petersfield Plan.  The plan will seek to balance the objectives of providing sustainable new development to retain the town’s key service role, providing for the needs of local communities and protecting the special character of the National Park.  It will be used to ensure a consistent approach to applications for new development and regeneration and set the framework for Petersfield’s growth to 2026.

Through an extensive programme of public consultation, DLA will work closely with the community to translate the community vision into a spatial strategy.  The Petersfield Plan will identify a pattern and scale of growth for the town that will inform the emerging Joint Core Strategy.  Stakeholder workshops and public exhibitions will be run over the summer and the Spatial Strategy will be completed in August 2011.

The Petersfield Plan was launched at an event in the Town Square as part of the Petersfield Food Festival in June.  The DLA team asked members of the public to answer key questions: what do they most value about Petersfield, what challenges does the town face and if they were the Mayor for the day, what would they change.  The results will be fed into a spatial options workshop to be held next month.

Please click here to read David Lock's latest Off the Fence article for the TCPA Journal.

David Lock Associates have submitted an outline planning application to Rugby Borough Council for a major Sustainable Urban Extension on the Rugby Radio Station site.  The site will be familiar to the millions of car drivers and rail travellers who pass it every year.  Owned by a joint venture between BT and Aviva Investors, it is identified in Rugby’s emerging Core Strategy as one of two extensions to the town and is the major development scheme.  The proposal is for 6200 houses and 31 hectares of employment development.

The Master Plan was informed by a lively and well-attended five day Design Inquiry and reflects a Green Infrastructure Strategy which incorporates extensive provision for ecological and heritage requirements. It is structured around the listed C Station building which, when it was built, was at the heart of the British Empire’s communications network.  Other important former telecommunications infrastructure such as mast bases are also embedded in the design.

Neil McLeod from Aviva Investors, the joint owner of the site with BT said “The Radio Station site represents one of our major investment and regeneration projects and we are determined to create a development that incorporates the best in contemporary building performance and high quality design.”

As a result of the annual reviews, we are pleased to announce the following promotions:

Helen Flett becomes a Senior Planner, and

Chris Powell is promoted to Senior CAD and Graphic Designer.

Despite the recession and continuing uncertainty as the government reforms the planning system, some strategic schemes are still progressing apace. DLA have now submitted three major applications at Leicester, Rugby and Cranfield in Devon totalling over 10,000 new homes in the last month alone.

The proposals near Leicester aim to meet the large share of the 7,600 homes identified by the East Midlands Regional Plan for Blaby District in the form of a sustainable urban extension to the city with 4,250 new homes and closely related proposals for a large new strategic employment site, which is proposed alongside.  The site was that selected by the authority in the submission draft of their Core Strategy, but stalled when the Regional Plan was abolished and then re-instated. New bridges over the M1 and M69 motorway will link the site to strategic routes.  The proposals for a consortium that includes Hallam Land, Barratt/David Wilson Homes and Davidson Developments and the landowners includes a mixed-use district centre, secondary school, two primary schools, nearly 1 million sq ft of strategic employment space and extensive new parklands around the abandoned medieval village of Lubbesthorpe, from where the proposal gets its name. The Council is now undertaking extensive consultation on the application and a decision is expected this year.

DLA sponsor 'first of its kind' free communications and community engagement resource for house builders and planners, built by Shelter.

Shelter Housing Insights for Communities lets you know which local people are most likely to actively object to house building; providing the messages that can resonate with them and the best channels to use to communicate with them. It's the key to achieving local support for housing development.

Start using Shelter Housing Insights for Communities now.

The Magheramorne Regeneration Project, on which we have worked as lead consultants and master planners since its inception in 2002, has won one of the top prizes in this year's RTPI/RSPB Northern Ireland Sustainable Planning Awards competition.

At 153 hectares, the former Magheramorne Works and Quarry site on the East Antrim coast is the largest previously-used site awaiting redevelopment in Northern Ireland. Our master plan, for which planning permission was granted in 2009, includes a fascinating and unique range of uses aimed at creating an exemplar of eco-friendly living and a major new visitor attraction on the Causeway Coastal Route. Key features of the master plan are a 450 dwelling One Planet Living community – potentially only the fifth WWF-endorsed community of its kind worldwide – and a world class mountain biking centre.

The project won the Sustainable Communities and Regeneration category of the 2011 Sustainable Planning Awards competition. The judges, announcing their results at a ceremony at Stormont, were particularly impressed with the way in which the local community was engaged from the outset and how the project proposals enjoy unanimous support. The award was made jointly to ourselves, Lafarge Cement UK (the site owners) and Turley Associates.

To raise a little bit of money for Comic Relief 2011, David Lock Associates decided to “do something yummy for money” and held a bake sale. Cakes were baked and contributed by willing members of staff and sold either by the slice for generous contributions, or auctioned off as whole cakes to very willing recipients.

In the course of the day many tummies were filled and over £320 was raised, which will be sent to Comic Relief, along with other contributions of small change which were raised on the day.

To find out more about the work Comic Relief undertake, both in the UK and abroad, click here.

Following the refusal of a previous proposal that had been submitted by a third party, DLA were commissioned by Rainbow Developments (UK) Ltd to advise on a planning strategy to secure planning permission for a medical centre on the site of a former nursing home in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.  Now Whaddon Medical Centre in Bletchley has officially opened its doors for hundreds of new patients.

By working closely with the Avebury Architects, Practice Manager, Doctors and Patient Representatives and the local authority planners, DLA were able to deliver an enhanced scheme. Despite its sensitive residential setting the permitted development provides a state of the arts medical centre together with a dentist, a pharmacy and seven enabling dwellings.  In addition to meeting the objectives of the parties involved the scheme was delivered with a low carbon footprint minimising energy requirements and maximising on-site energy production, particularly with the use of photovoltaics on the south facing roof. DLA secured the consent, liaising closely with the local planning authority and responding to community feedback following stakeholder consultation.

DLA has highlighted how the company’s extensive experience in sustainable design and master planning is being applied to current projects including two in China.  Speaking at Ecobuild this week Senior Associate Dr Wei Yang outlined how DLA is applying the principles of sustainable development to master planning projects in Wuhan and Guiyang.  DLA has been collaborating with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to establish closer economic links with urban designers, planning professionals and the development industry in China.  This has led to the award of three significant design and master planning contracts. 

To learn more about how we have applied our experience to Local Energy Planning and Planning for Renewable Energy click here for our latest Capability Statement.

Thursday 10th February 2011 saw the official opening of the first show home at the new Colyers gardens development at Kingswood, Corby. The regeneration of Kingswood represents a further important milestone in the continuing transformation of Corby. The scheme was designed by David Lock Associates following the company's ongoing role in master planning and implementing the major urban extension at Prior's Hall, also in Corby. Senior Associate Stephen Haines, who led the DLA's Kingswood team, commented:

"It's extremely gratifying to see all the hard work over the years finally being implemented. It was also great to meet up with the team of residents, officers and councillors who were instrumental in shaping the vision for Kingswood. I'm sure local residents will be just as excited to see the development taking shape helping create better housing prospects for the people of Corby as a whole."

Present at the official opening was Corby Mayor Ann Brown and the High Sheriff, David Laing as well as officers, residents and councillors. The official opening represents the culmination of a number of year's hard work and the fruitful collaboration between DLA and a number of key partners to help transform Corby including Keepmoat Homes, Bela Partnership Ltd, Corby Borough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and North Northants Development Company.
 

http://www.moreincorby.co.uk/latest-news/colyers-gardens-kingswood-corby-show-home-opening

http://www.nndev.co.uk/developments/kingswood-corby

After thirty years championing Milton Keynes, Professor David Lock, CBE, is handing over the role of Chair of the Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre to Paula Clarendon, businesswoman and IT specialist.

David Lock came to Milton Keynes as a young town planner in 1977 when most of the city was yet to be built. He was a founder member of the MK Urban Studies Centre, and in 1987, when that organisation merged with the Field Studies Centre, David Lock became Chair of the resulting Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre (MKCDC). Since then, the charity, based at Bradwell Abbey, has amassed materials on the history, geography, archaeology, nature, town planning and politics of the UK’s most ambitious new town. But it also has a mission to inform, and last year the MKCDC welcomed over 20, 000 visitors, from local schoolchildren to delegations from China keen to see how this master-planned city works.

"My time as Chair has never been quiet or boring," says David. “It’s been great working with other volunteers, blending fun and hard work, making new friends and learning about our hometown." In 2007 David received the CBE for services to town planning, and is head of the firm of David Lock Associates, based in CMK. They are currently advising on a new technology city in China, nine times as big as Milton Keynes. Yet David will keep his connections to the MKCDC, as he now becomes its first honorary President.

Paula Clarendon, new chair of the MKCDC, says “This is a good chance to contribute my time and business skills to the charity’s development. One of the biggest challenges we face is maintaining the historic buildings at Bradwell Abbey, where much of our work takes place. Just this October we had to take emergency measures to protect the medieval chapel in the grounds. Unfortunately, this means we cannot host as many public events as we would like. However, we are working closely with Milton Keynes Council to obtain funding to restore the whole site. Looking ahead, all of us at MKCDC will be working hard to ensure that this great community asset is once again enjoyed by all.”

As for the archivists, they are still on the look-out for good materials. Paula comments: “Our superb collection of maps, architectural models and photographs reveals the fascinating story of Milton Keynes. This is invaluable for planning sustainable cities of the future. We know that other organisations have MK materials too. Given the current plans to disband bodies such as the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) we are keen to save any such material that might otherwise be lost.“

Henk van Aswegen, Director of MKCDC, said: “We are extremely grateful to our previous Chair, Professor David Lock CBE, for his marvellous long term service and commitment, and delighted that he will be our honorary President. I am looking forward to working on fresh challenges with Paula and our volunteer Board.”

MKCDC general enquiries: 01908 227229

David Lock Associates (DLA) and Wuhan Planning and Design Institute (WPDI) have been received favourably at a presentation to Wuhan Planning Bureau.

Following their commission by the Bureau on Bayi Road urban design strategies in November 2010, DLA and Wuhan Planning and Design Institute (WPDI) have worked in partnership to provide an integrated service combining the best UK expertise with local Chinese knowledge.

Thorough analysis has been carried out to understand the current issues in terms of public realm quality, road safety and ecology. To inform the development of the urban design strategy, DLA also commissioned an on-street questionnaire survey at several key locations in the area. The questions were primarily focused on local people's evaluation of the existing urban spaces and their aspirations for the area.

A holistic urban design strategy has been developed by DLA with particular emphasis on encouraging low carbon transport modes and establishing eco-corridors recognising the natural beauty of the Wuhan East Lake and mountains.

The mid-stage presentation given to the Planning Bureau by DLA and WPDI, as well as DLA's approach of introducing an integrated urban design strategy, was very well received. For the next stage, DLA and WPDI will finalise the Design Code of the area to guide future urban development.

DLA have taken part in the first Annual Partnership Conference to promote the proposed Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway project.  Partner Simon Collier addressed over 100 delegates from local businesses and authorities speaking about the Marston Vale Innovation Park; a project which David Lock Associates have been engaged in by Bedford Borough Council for the past 12 months.  The Innovation Park is viewed as an exemplar of how the waterway can be delivered in conjunction with commercial development.

The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterways Trust was established in 1995 to promote the development of a broad waterway which will link the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the river Great Ouse in Bedford through a series of Waterway Parks.

The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson said that the proposed Marston Vale Innovation Park would “bring the waterway a step closer.  It would offer business headquarters alongside the improved A421, just ten minutes from the M1, and the stretch of waterway through the Park would enhance the location as an attractive place to work”.

Jane Wolfson, Chair of the Trust explained that “the Waterway is a ‘Big Society’ project with the community actively working to shape the locality and holding our public bodies to account”.

Click here to read more

DLA has been successful in obtaining full planning permission for new premises for Kids Play to provide childcare facilities and run a pre-school and after-school club on the site of their existing facility in Knowlhill, Milton Keynes.  The bespoke building designed by DLA’s sister company, DLA Architects, will provide high quality new accommodation for their pre-school/after-school children’s club operation, while the existing Kids Play building on the site will be converted to alternative uses.  The proposals included minimal additional car parking based on supporting evidence from another of DLA’s sister companies, Integrated Transport Planning.  The successful outcome was achieved within the eight week determination period.

David Lock Associates’ quality management system has been registered under ISO9001: 2008.  The accreditation demonstrates that DLA is committed to best practice in serving its clients and in its internal management.  As part of its commitment to a Quality Management System, DLA will be undertaking an ongoing review of its procedures to make sure that it measures and makes improvements as necessary. Procedures relate to all aspects of the company’s work from client communication to data management and housekeeping. Speaking after receiving the company’s Certificate of Registration, Managing Director Lawrence Revill said “David Lock Associates has always been committed to delivering a high quality service to its clients – this accreditation demonstrates that we are doing so in a way which meets strict ISO9001 standards”.  

DLA has been successful in securing a commission from Country and Metropolitan Homes [Formerly Gladedale (South East) Ltd & Gladedale (Home Counties) Ltd] at Bletchley.

DLA has been instructed to progress a reserved matters application for 230 new homes on the site of the former Bletchley Leisure Centre – since redeveloped along with a first phase of homes – and is reacquainted with the project having been instrumental in securing outline permission for a mix of uses at the site in 2006 to include a new leisure centre, associated car parking and a number of new homes. The commission means that DLA will continue to play an important role in the ongoing regeneration of a key part of the town centre. 

David Lock Associates have promoted four new Partners. Joanne Cave and Simon Collier become Urban Design Partners, Robert Purton becomes a Planning Partner and Gerry Scrase becomes a Partner and Finance Director. In addition, Andrew Fisher has joined the company as an Associate Planner.

DLA have welcomed a high level delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce representing low carbon industries. The delegation is seeking to bolster two-way investment between the UK and China, and to promote exchanges in the low carbon economy and green industries. The head of the delegation Mr Gu Jie, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Chinese Investment Promotion Agency, and 20 colleagues in the commercial bureau representing 16 Chinese provinces and regions visited Milton Keynes, one of the most successful new cities in the world and a thriving UK business centre. At DLA’s office in Central Milton Keynes the delegation exchanged ideas on how UK planning expertise can be used in delivering low carbon cities in China.

South Gloucestershire Council has granted detailed planning permission for a Multi-Modal Interchange (MMI) at Emersons Green East.  The MMI represents the first phase of the wider urban extension on the eastern edge of Bristol which will deliver 2,500 dwellings, 100,000m2 of employment floor space and associated education, social and community uses.   It will provide bus interchange and parking facilities for existing commuters and future Emersons Green East residents and employees.  The application, submitted by David Lock Associates, provided details of improvements to the Folly Brook Tributary ecological corridor, around which the MMI is designed, which connects to a wider network of green spaces and ecological areas at the heart of the new development.

Training is a top priority for Mercedes-Benz UK (MBUK).  Currently the company’s training is carried out in temporary premises in Denbigh, near Bletchley.  DLA have worked with MBUK and its professional team to secure a planning consent for a new facility on the company’s headquarters site at Tongwell in Milton Keynes.  It will offer state of the art training facilities to support the company’s network of dealerships around the country.  The building will be largely powered by a bespoke biomass energy plant that will use otherwise redundant wooden pallets to create power and heat.  This, in turn, will reduce the sites reliance on landfill.  This will be a highly visual signal that the company is investing in renewable energy resources.  Construction will commence early in 2011.

David Lock Associates have secured detailed planning permission from Birmingham City Council for the final phase of the Edgbaston Mill development.  The Phase 3 application sought permission for a 4* hotel, conference centre, health and fitness and spa facility, restaurant and coffee shop on this key site opposite the Warwickshire County Cricket Club Test Match Ground on Edgbaston Road.  DLA will now lead the discharge of pre-commencement conditions to allow a start on site by March 2011 and opening in time to accommodate 2012 Olympic athletes.  Phase 3 marks the completion of the 10 year regeneration project which has already delivered 344 new apartments, a food store and a new public square and boulevard linking to Cannon Hill Park and the Midland Arts Centre.

The River Nene is an important asset in Northamptonshire which is recognised through its status as a Regional Park. David Lock Associates were appointed by the River Nene Regional Park to produce a strategic plan for the Nene Valley. The aim of the plan is to realise the potential of the Valley as an environmental, historic, leisure, tourism and economic asset for the many settlements and communities within Northamptonshire. The Strategy has drawn together the views of a wide range of key public and private sector stakeholders and establishes a clear Vision supported by nine objectives which will guide the implementation and direction of the Strategy. The detailed proposals set out within the Strategy are structured around five complementary themes which focus on:

• A more enjoyed River Nene
• Improved Nene towns
• A living countryside
• A connected Nene Valley
• Enhanced cultural and natural attractions and a natural playground

The Coalition Government’s Business Secretary Vince Cable has today endorsed DLA’s success in securing a major urban design project in China. Vince Cable said:

"David Lock Associates' expanding presence in China is testament to the strong economic relationship between China and the UK, and to the benefits that trade and overseas investment can bring to UK companies.

I am pleased to see more and more companies capitalising on the opportunities offered by China’s development. I hope that this week’s visit will serve to open doors for more UK firms, and I wish David Lock Associates every success in their future business.”

David Lock Associates (DLA) has been appointed by Wuhan Planning Bureau to prepare urban design strategies and design codes for an area of 740 hectares in Central Wuhan following the successful delivery of a conceptual master plan for the Wuhan East Lake Innovation Model Zone.

In partnership with Wuhan Planning Design Institute, DLA will advise on the overall urban design strategy for an area along Bayi Road. A design code will be prepared to guide future development and the regeneration of the area. Particular emphasis will be given to encouraging a low carbon transport modes and establishing eco-corridors recognising the natural beauty of the Wuhan East Lake and mountains.

Wuhan, alongside Chongqing and Changsha, has been identified as a pilot city for the UK and China ‘Sustainable Cities Initiative.’ This project will form an important part of the collaboration between the UK and China within the initiative, which aims at sharing best practises in planning and master planning sustainable cities in both countries.

David Lock Associates, on behalf of Brooklands Masterdeveloper Places for People, has produced a new Design Code to guide the development of the latest parcel at Brooklands, in the Milton Keynes Eastern Expansion Area. Parcel 18 has recently been marketed and house builders that submit an expression of interest will be required to use the Design Code to inform design proposals for the important site that is located in the heart of the new residential community.

The Design Code uses a Regulatory Plan to summarise on a single A1 sheet the key design guidance that must inform layout plans and proposals for Parcel 18 (see image). The Regulatory Plan is supported by a full Design Code document that can be referred to for more detailed guidance on Built Form Design Principles, Housing Design, Materials Palettes, and Streetscape Design (see image).

The Design Code for Parcel 18 is the latest in a continuous series of Brooklands commissions that DLA has undertaken on behalf of Places for People. DLA has developed the master plan for Brooklands, and secured a hybrid planning permission for 2,501 mixed tenure homes, plus associated community facilities in 2007. This was followed by the site-wide Design Code 1 for Brooklands in 2008, and is now to be supplemented by detailed Design Codes for individual development parcels, of which Parcel 18 is the first.

To view the Regulatory Plan please click here

To view the Aerial Photograph please click here

To view the Materials Palette please click here

David Lock Associates has been delivering value for our many clients on projects at all scales for over 20 years.  Although our work on large scale mixed use projects is perhaps better known, we also have a long and successful history of securing planning consents on small and medium scale sites ranging from less than 5, up to 500 dwellings.  We have launched a Capability Statement showcasing our skills on promoting these smaller and medium scale projects, the majority of which are being actively implemented.  It is part of a series profiling our approach to taking forward the Localism Agenda and delivering community determined futures. Please click here to view more on our downloads page.

David Lock Associates has secured outline planning permission on behalf of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust for new homes on part of the former Highcroft Hospital site in Stockland Green, Birmingham. The planning permission provides for up to 128 new houses and flats, along with new accesses and retention of protected trees on and around the site. Following extensive pre-submission discussions, the application was determined and an s106 agreement drafted, negotiated and signed all within the 13 week determination period.

Please click here to read the article in Planning Magazine by DLA’s Managing Director Lawrence Revill

DLA has received its fourth instruction from Basildon Council/Basildon Renaissance Partnership (BRP). The latest commission is to prepare and submit an outline planning application for residential development on the site of a redundant community building and car park at Pound Lane, Basildon. The application is to be submitted by November 2010.

This latest instruction relates to one of three sites that are proposed to be developed to support the Council’s asset disposal strategy and capital programme, particularly the funding of the £38 million Basildon Sporting Village project.

The Council, as planning authority, has recently resolved to grant planning permission for 25 dwellings on one of these sites - a surplus piece of open space at Felmores, to the north-east of the New Town.  The application on the third site is being held pending the outcome of discussions with Sport England on compensatory open space provision.

England’s largest Kickstart scheme has been officially opened by the Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency Sir Bob Kerslake.

Sir Bob cut the ribbon on the first show homes at Priors Hall marking an important milestone in the development of this new community to the north east of Corby. The master plan for the 5100 new homes and associated uses was prepared by David Lock Associates in 2004. Since then, DLA has prepared the Design Codes for the first two phases of the scheme and been closely involved with the project implementation, as ‘Town Architect’.

HCA describe their Kickstart Housing Delivery programme as targeting “stalled sites, to support construction of high quality mixed tenure housing developments.”

In December 2009, a joint venture The Bela Partnership secured £12.4 million of HCA Kickstart funding to unlock the delivery of 388 new homes at Priors Hall. Ten months after receiving the funding, apart from opening the first show homes, Sir Bob also met some of the 60 buyers and some of the 30 local students who have benefited from the Bela Partnership Apprenticeship Scheme at Priors Hall.

For more information:

http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/Launch-of-new-homes-at-Priors 

Collaborate, an alliance of professionals led by Peter Brett Associates LLP (PBA), has been appointed to the Homes and Community Agency’s multidisciplinary panel.

Through the four-year agreement, the Collaborate group will provide a wide range of professional consultancy services including masterplanning, architecture, urban design, property, transport and civil engineering, economics, environmental design services, planning, project and cost management, ecology, landscape, heritage and archaeology.

The Collaborate group is principally supported by David Lock Associates, Aspire and Gardiner & Theobald, and includes a further nine organisations. Together, they blend a breadth of skills and experience to deliver projects across the UK.

Ruth Jeffs, equity Director for lead consultant Peter Brett Associates and Collaborate’s framework director, said: “Building sustainable communities requires a sound, research-based approach which integrates commercial development skills, a proven track record of planning success and innovative masterplanning."

“Organisations and groups seeking to generate real value from their assets can access an extensive range of skills through the HCA panel, and take advantage of diverse personal relationships founded on trust and confidence. We believe the Collaborate group is well placed to transform local development priorities into action.”

Ends

About Collaborate

Collaborate is an alliance of distinguished professionals comprising Allsop, Aspire, Beyond Green, BSG, CgMs, David Lock Associates, fpcr, Gardiner & Theobald LLP, MJP Architects, Shared Intelligence, Taylor Young and Whitelaw Turkington working together under the leadership of Peter Brett Associates LLP, an independent sustainable development consultancy.

Collaborate has a wealth of land development experience on large-scale, mixed-use projects. Together, the alliance of professionals aims to deliver more for less by balancing the strengths, experience and insight of individual members to offer value that is greater than the sum of the parts.

www.collaborategroup.com

For more information, please contact:

Pauline Mason

Marketing Manager

Peter Brett Associates LLP

0118 950 0761

pmason@peterbrett.com

DLA has been commissioned by Mercedes-Benz Retail Group (UK) Limited to undertake planning feasibility work on two of their dealership sites in the Midlands and the North-West.

These represent the latest in a long line of commissions for DLA from the prestige automotive firm, whose UK HQ is in Milton Keynes.  

Film-lovers will be able to see some firm family favourites on a giant screen using the latest LED technology. The films will be shown at the following times:

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at 3.30pm, followed by Dirty Dancing at 7.30pm (sponsored by Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors and David Lock Associates) on Saturday 21st August 2010. Finding Nemo will be shown at 3.30pm, followed by the classic musical extravaganza Singin’ in the Rain at 7.30pm (sponsored by Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors and David Lock Associates) on Sunday 22nd August 2010.

So grab your friends, pack a picnic, popcorn, seats, blanket or rug and get an afternoon, evening or weekend’s entertainment for free.

David Foster, The Parks Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “Over 10,000 people flocked to last year’s open-air cinema and it’s now become one of Milton Keynes’ most hotly anticipated events. It’s fantastic that we can put on this festival for free and we’re really grateful to Heart 103.3 for helping us to present the whole weekend and to Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors and David Lock Associates for sponsoring our Saturday and Sunday night films,”

DLA Film Festival.pdf

David Lock Associates’ proposals for a major regeneration scheme at Drakelow Park have this week been given the green light by South Derbyshire District Council.  The 110 ha brownfield site 3km to the south of Burton-upon-Trent will deliver a sustainable new community incorporating family, first time buyer, retirement and affordable housing, as well as a new primary school, health centre and neighbourhood centre facilities.

The planning application, submitted by Roger Bullivant Ltd (RBL) and E.ON UK (E.ON), will also secure new employment on site which will create around 1,500 new jobs as well as facilitating the retention of the existing Bullivant business, one of the primary employers in the region.

In resolving to grant outline planning permission for the scheme, the Chair of the Planning Committee Councillor Martyn Ford praised the David Lock Associates’ master plan for the site as a “fabulous” scheme able to deliver “iconic development” and a “quantum leap” for South Derbyshire.

Heather Pugh, Director of David Lock Associates, said: ”this resolution represents the culmination of 6 years of consultation and 18 months of intensive liaison with the planning authority, who are commended for taking a positive approach to deliver new development in their district in the face of the present uncertainty in the planning system.”

Development could commence as early as next year.  The first phase, which will take between six and eight years to deliver, will include the delivery of up to 1,000 dwellings and the first local centre.

Visit the Drakelow Park website at: http://www.drakelowpark.com/

David Lock Associates have won first prize in the Cycle-MK Challenge! 

The Cycle-MK Challenge, is a campaign organised by Milton Keynes Council, Cycling England, NHS and Cycle Touring Club to encourage people working in Milton Keynes to rediscover the joys and benefits of riding a bike. The main aim was to get as many staff as possible to ride a bike for at least 10 minutes anywhere they like, anytime they like, over a three week period. 

DLA topped the 50 to 199 employee size category with over 60% of the office cycling during the challenge.   We logged 156 trips covering 952 miles, burning 29,500 calories and saving 311 kg of CO2! 

The challenge results for all participating organisations make interesting reading:

• 62,917 miles were cycled – equal to cycling two and a half times round the world!
• 6,854 trips were cycled
• 10,415 kg of CO2 was saved by trips for transport purposes
• 8 million Kj of energy was burnt - equivalent to 557 pounds of fat
• 1,012 people took part from 59 organisations
• 163 of whom hadn't been on a bike in the last year.

DLA has been instructed by Mercedes-Benz Retail Group (UK) Limited to prepare and submit an advertisement consent application for new signage at their dealership in Beckenham, near Bromley in Kent.  This represents the 20th project that DLA has worked on for Mercedes-Benz in the last few years covering sites in both the Midlands and the south-east of England.

David Lock Associates have a long established link with the East of England RTPI - they are proud to have now had the opportunity to extend this level of support into a formal sponsorship arrangement to prepare the graphics, layout and printing of the magazine, The Orient Express.

Robert Purton, past Chair of the East of England Region of the RTPI and Associate Director of David Lock Associates welcomed the opportunity this provided for DLA to support the profession’s work in the East of England, whilst highlighting the area within which DLA have secured environmental improvements and much needed new jobs for investors and occupants in this key region of the UK economy.

The clear visual communication of complex spatial planning concepts is at the heart of our business; we understand the power of a plan to instantly articulate spatial relationships and lift an idea off a page.

DLA were asked to produce 49 maps covering the 9 separate regions of England for CABE, each set showing the spatial planning of each region i.e. growth points, green belt, URC locations, key towns, local authority boundaries, AONB and more. A final overall spatial planning map was also produced showing all 9 regions.

David Lock Associates has over 20 years of experience bringing together planning information and mapping into effective visuals. Our track record demonstrates a consistent ability to balance key information and clear visuals with design flair and imagination. DLA’s team of 8 highly skilled graphic designers, working alongside GIS, 3D modelling and CAD experts and supported by our planning team, delivered a high quality output for this important commission.

Please see attached

David Lock Associates’ work on the Temple Waterfront Project in Kent has been included in the newly published Medway Renaissance Annual Report.

See Link

Town Planning and Urban Design Consultants David Lock Associates have been commissioned to lead a team of consultants on behalf of Calthorpe Estates and Stonen Limited for a new Crown Plaza hotel which will feature a swimming pool, conference facilities, gymnasium, restaurants, bars and 200 bedrooms, a new convenience store and a restaurant. It’s part of Phase 3 of the Edgbaston Mill site opposite the Warwickshire County Cricket Club ground in Birmingham.  David Lock Associate Director Robert Purton explained that “the regeneration of this site has taken just over a decade and we now look forward to concluding this chapter of the site with an exciting proposal which should be open to the public by 2012.”

How has the recession affected public art and urban design? That’s the subject of RUDI’s 3rd annual conference which is taking place this year at Milton Keynes Gallery.

The one day event entitled “A place for Creativity? Inspiring urban change…” will feature a number of speakers including DLA’s Deputy Chairman Will Cousins.

For more information click here

DLA and DLA Architects have been commissioned by Basildon Council/Basildon Renaissance Partnership (BRP) to prepare and submit a full planning application for the extension of a sports pavilion, reconfiguration of football pitches (to accommodate an additional pitch) and additional car parking facilities on an open space at Swan Mead, Basildon.

This latest commission from the Council/BRP is related to DLA’s on-going work in preparing outline planning applications for the residential development of three surplus open spaces in the New Town, one of which involves the displacement of a pitch and changing facilities, which will be replaced at Swan Mead. The work supports the Council’s asset disposal strategy and capital programme, particularly the funding of the £38 million Basildon Sporting Village project, which will be the best sports facility in the East of England. 

The planning application is to be prepared and submitted in July 2010. 

Duncan Chadwick, Senior Associate and Project Manager, said: "We are pleased with this latest commission as it complements our other planning work in Basildon and reinforces the excellent working relationship we have built up with the Council/BRP."  

David Lock Associates have been appointed by Southampton City Council to prepare the Southampton City Centre Master Plan.  It is a significant piece of work for the company.  The Master Plan will articulate the aspirations of the city and bring them and current development projects together into an implementable and exciting plan.  David Lock Associates brings a unique mix of master planning and regeneration expertise and will be supported by the internationally renowned Gehl Architects, transport and engineering consultants Peter Bretts and market and delivery advisors Strutt & Parker.  Scott Brownrigg Architects, Proctor Matthews Architects, MacCormac Jamieson Pritchard Architects and Shared Intelligence are also assisting.

The Master Plan, alongside the City Centre Action Plan, will guide development within the city for the next decade.  It will be a robust and visionary document which delivers a transformed Southampton: walkable streets, new neighbourhoods, renewed public realm, new life and activity and a connected waterfront.

David Lock Associates have been commissioned as one of five consultancies to produce a conceptual master plan for a major urban extension to Wuhan in central China .  The substantial contract is to produce master plan ideas and one of five specialist reports; DLA with sister company ITP will focus on transportation.

“We are very excited to be working collaboratively alongside four leading Chinese Planning Institutes to contribute ideas for the East Lakes area of Wuhan, its next major planned expansion”, DLA Managing Director Lawrence Revill said.  “The scale of development and change is very challenging, but we are convinced that our UK experience in flexible development frameworks has much to offer.  Our background in Milton Keynes, the place most visited by Chinese delegations outside London , stands us in good stead.”

The twenty year strategy will add 2,000,000 people to the city’s population and reinforce its role as the innovation and technology capital of the Hubei region and one of China’s key ‘mega cities’.

The team has recently participated in a presentation of preliminary ideas and has to complete this stage of the master plan work by the end of June.

David Lock Associates has submitted an Outline Planning Application for Salden Chase, south west of Milton Keynes – which will see an exciting new development built over the next 25-30 years, similar in size to the County market town of Buckingham.

The application for this ‘sustainable urban extension’ has been submitted to Aylesbury Vale District Council on behalf of the Salden Chase Consortium. In addition to over five thousand new homes being built, a mixed-use neighbourhood centre is being planned, including potential for a new railway station on the proposed East West railway line. There are also plans for an enterprise hub to help stimulate local entrepreneurial business activity. 

A key attribute of the scheme is the large proportion of the site which has been earmarked for green infrastructure. Around a third of the development area will be made up of parkland, sports/recreational facilities, play areas and wildlife areas. A large extension to one of Milton Keynes’ linear parks, it will also feature an eco-park to improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity in the area. 

Education is at the forefront of the application too, with provision for 4 primary schools and a secondary school. And, as well as the jobs created through the construction of the site, the operation of 5 schools, other community and retail uses, an accessible large scale mixed employment area is proposed.

Finally, Salden Chase will feature an integrated public transport network, with an extension of the Milton Keynes Bus Rapid Transit route; a local bus network providing excellent links for the entire community.  A comprehensive pedestrian and cycle network will also be provided for excellent local access.  

DLA have submitted the application on behalf of the Salden Chase Consortium; namely Barwood Development Securities, Barwood LaSalle LLP, Bellcross Homes Ltd, Connolly Homes, Hallam Land Management Ltd, Taylor Wimpey PLC and William Davis Ltd.

Further information can be found at www.saldenchase.co.uk

Three public realm enhancement projects identified by DLA in the 2007 report Felixstowe Seafront & Town Centre Master Plan are now under construction. DLA’s Felixstowe Master Plan, commissioned by Suffolk Coastal District Council built on DLA’s earlier strategic study A Local Strategy for Felixstowe Peninsula, April 2006, (a joint commission by EEDA, EP now HCA, Suffolk Coastal District Council, and Felixstowe Town Council). The Master Plan and Local Strategy for the Suffolk seaside town proposed a series of complimentary interventions to enhance the public realm and facilities on the seafront and in the town centre. Central to DLA’s vision was the emphasis on improving the connection between the high street and the seafront promenade. The three master plan projects that are now under construction all contribute towards achieving this vision.

Click on the following links to see images & information for the three projects:

• Hamilton Road high street project - delivers public realm improvements to the town centre high street, creating a shared surface environment. See pictures and more info here
• Bent Hill: Town Centre – Seafront link project - public realm improvements to the key route between the high street and seafront promenade, creating a shared surface street to connect to the Hamilton Road High Street scheme. See more information on the scheme here and pictures here
• Coastal Path project - creation of a continuous coastal footpath along the length of the seafront, stretching from one end of the town to the other. The Martello Coast Path incorporates art into the walkway. More info here

In addition to these projects another scheme – to revitalise the Seafront Gardens - has also been progressed in order to aid a bid for project funding. More info here

Following completion of DLA’s work the local authority - Suffolk Coastal District Council – established a ‘Felixstowe Futures’ project team dedicated to developing the concepts proposed in the two reports that David Lock Associates produced. Further information on Felixstowe Futures on the local authorities’ website: http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/felixstowefutures/

As a result of the annual reviews, we are pleased to announce the following promotions:

Arwel Owen - Senior Associate

Wei Yang  - Senior Associate

Helen Locke  - Associate

Natasha Pile - Associate

Stefanie Goedecke - Principal Planner

Joe Thomas  - Planner

Helen Flett  - Planner

Town planning & Urban Design Consultants David Lock Associates are taking on a mammoth task to raise money for SPORT RELIEF. A team of 15 from the Milton Keynes office will attempt to complete a 275 km sponsored bike ride over 3 days, passing through 4 counties and visiting as many of their current project sites, on route, as they can.

Setting off from the MK office on Friday 26th March, the DLA “Cycle-Locks” face around 30 hours of sitting in the saddle, battling the elements!  Their first port of call will be Brooklands, east Milton Keynes, closely followed by Marston Vale in Bedfordshire where they’re preparing a development strategy for a sustainable new settlement of up to 15,000 homes. They’ll also visit several other large sustainable urban extension projects that DLA are retained consultants for, including Huntingdon, Great Haddon and Hampton in Peterborough, Priors Hall in Corby, Rugby Radio Station, and Salden Chase in south west Milton Keynes.

All money raised from the challenge will go towards Sport Relief which helps vulnerable people facing incredibly tough lives both in the UK and in the world’s poorest countries. If you would like to sponsor the team please visit:  

www.justgiving.com/cycle-locks

David Lock Associates has been appointed by Bericote Properties to act as planning consultant for the development of a £140m distribution park on 35 hectares near Avonmouth, Bristol.

Bericote has agreed a joint venture with AstraZeneca to promote the site, which lies between the M5 and the Severn estuary.  Proposals for the 1.5 million sq.ft scheme will be progressed in consultation with South Gloucestershire Council and local stakeholders. This will conclude with the submission of a planning application for B1, B2 and B8 uses.

Planning Director Heather Pugh said “our appointment to the team is an exciting opportunity: Bericote’s dynamic and innovative approach to development projects reflects the ethos of our own practice, and we look forward to a long and productive working relationship”.

David Lock Associates have secured the approval of important public realm enhancements between the prestigious Edgbaston Mill mixed use development and the Midlands Arts Centre, which is also undergoing a major redevelopment.  The landscaping proposals provide a much needed connection between the schemes and enhance the appearance and role of Queens Ride, which forms the edge of the scheduled Cannon Hill Park. Principal Planner Helen Locke said "The Queens Ride works represent the completion of the Edgbaston Mill public realm proposals and are due to be commenced shortly."

A state of the art leisure complex at the heart of a David Lock Associates’ master plan has been recognised at this year’s BREEAM Awards.

DLA were commissioned by Milton Keynes Council, the Homes & Communities Agency and DCLG to deliver (from outline planning permission, reserved matters, through to snagging the final building) a new improved leisure facility which opened at the beginning of the year. As well as the new centre, which incorporates a 25m competition swimming pool, plus numerous other sporting facilities, 300 new homes and a multi-storey car park are to be built on the site in Bletchley as part of the ‘Building a Better Bletchley’ project.

BREEAM is the environmental assessment method used for buildings and the awards recognise the top rated buildings in the UK.  In order to win an award, BREEAM state that “each building must have excelled in every environmental category… (e.g. from energy to ecology) - and therefore winners represent a holistic approach to delivering environmental sustainability.”

Associate Director at David Lock Associates Robert Purton, who attended the award ceremony at Earls Court, said: “This was a challenging project in a number of different ways and it is great to be part of a team that has secured such a positive catalyst for the regeneration of an area that has been over looked as an investment opportunity for high quality contemporary solutions for 40 years.”

Paul Sanders from Milton Keynes Council added: “This has been a very fruitful project, many years in the planning, and we were pleased to be able to open the doors of the new look leisure centre at the start of the year with a facility that clearly has its eyes on limiting its environmental footprint. The support and advice that DLA have provided has been both invaluable and essential.”

Full planning permission has been granted for the re-use of the historic Temple Works in Leeds. David Lock Associates submitted an application on behalf of the owner’s agent SJS Property Management to change the use of the building into a multi-purpose performance, exhibition and events venue – and has now been given the go-ahead. Leeds City Council has also granted permission for the adjoining 1953 warehouse to be demolished once structural strengthening has been carried out.

Built circa 1840, Temple Works is a Grade 1 listed former flax mill that resembles the Temple of Horus at Edfu in Egypt and is infamous for having a flat roof where sheep reputedly grazed. The planning permission means the public will be able to enter and appreciate this magnificent building for the first time in its long history.

David Lock Associates proposals for the comprehensive redevelopment of Lafarge Cement's Northfleet Works site in north Kent moved a step closer following the demolition of Bevans Chimney.  The chimney dating from the 1950s and weighing around 1400 tonnes was taken down using explosive charges in a text book operation that created a dramatic spectacle. Two further chimney stacks remain and are to be demolished later this spring.

The Lordshill estate in Southampton was constructed in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s following the principles of the Radburn layout with courtyard parking and housing fronting parks and shared open spaces. At its centre is a district shopping centre and community facilities. But, whilst the local community is strong, the estate has declined. The community facilities are poor and dated and the closure of several local schools has created uncertainty, and new investment and renewal is frustrated by an outdated road system and unpleasant grade separated underpasses.  To tackle these issues Southampton City Council has appointed David Lock Associates to produce a master plan.  The 6-month commission will include a community engagement and explore a variety of alternatives. 

David Lock Associates has been appointed by the HCA to prepare a Master Plan for North Morpeth.

The land at St George’s Hospital has been identified as one of six growth points within the South East Northumberland Growth Area; which aims to increase and accelerate housing delivery, improve quality and design of developments, widen housing choice and provide greener housing.

Work on the project has just begun, the first stage being a stakeholder workshop to explore constraints and opportunities in the area; for example, the proposed Northern By-pass, the greenbelt, and existing settlements.

The results of the workshop will help inform three development options – which will be presented by DLA to the wider public in spring. The preferred option will then be identified and offered to the Council and the community by the HCA.

With a budget of £21 million (including S106 contributions, MK Tariff funding and CDLG funding, plus match funding from various sporting bodies), the redevelopment of Bletchley Leisure Centre has come to fruition with its official opening scheduled for 9 January. The new building is part of a Master Plan by local firm David Lock Associates who were appointed by Milton Keynes Council, the Homes & Communities Agency and DCLG to deliver a new improved leisure facility. The plan will also see 300 new homes and a multi-storey car park built on the site in South Milton Keynes, work on which will begin after the demolition of the old Leisure Centre.

The new Leisure Centre itself has a 25m pool, thermal suite, sauna, steam room, spectator viewing area, sports hall, multi-use hall, gym, aerobic room, spinning studio, 4 squash courts with viewing facilities, indoor bowls, function suite and a café.  In order to effectively integrate the new development into the town, the main road serving the site has been completely remodelled to create a more pleasant environment and improve pedestrian links.

David Lock Associates has been appointed by Bedford Borough Council to produce a master plan and detailed landscape infrastructure plan for the Marston Vale Innovation Park near Bedford.

Covering 8.5 ha, the employment site adjoins the upgraded A421 to the south west of the town and is situated to the east of Wootton village.

The master plan and landscape details will be submitted as reserved matters applications pursuant to an emerging planning permission.

Landscape details are being executed by The Landscape Partnership, Lambert Smith Hampton is advising on property matters and Peter Brett Associates are advising on the integration of energy generation into the master planning process.

Milton Keynes has been named as one of 12 cities to host the 2018 World cup – if England win their bid.

The Football Association has listed the MK Dons Stadium alongside the likes of Old Trafford and Wembley.

David Lock Associates were delighted to be invited by the MK 2018 Bid Team to assist them in their campaign, coming up with the concept and Master Plan for the FanFest sites at Campbell Park and the MK Bowl. FanFest sites are now an important part of the World Cup experience as it enables people, who don’t have a ticket for the football matches, to enjoy the World Cup on large screens, and to be able to enjoy a range of activities in a festival-type atmosphere outside of the stadium.

Outline planning applications have been submitted to Peterborough City Council for Great Haddon, the planned urban extension for south Peterborough.  The applications, submitted by David Lock Associates on behalf of the Great Haddon Consortium (O&H Properties, Marlborough Oasis Ltd and David Wilson Homes), are for 5,350 new homes and 65 ha of employment land on the south-western edge of the city.

Great Haddon is designed to help meet the housing and employment land needs of the city to 2021 and beyond, providing new homes for around 12,000 people and the potential to generate over 10,000 new jobs. 

The development potential of the site, between Hampton and the A1 (M), has been recognised in a number of strategic studies for the city as an appropriate location for growth, and this is reflected in its allocation in the emerging Core Strategy as one of two urban extensions for the city. 

In addition to new homes and employment land, the new community will include schools, shops, workplaces, open space, community facilities and local services all set within an extensive landscape framework which reflects the character and setting of the surrounding area. 

The desire for sustainable living has underpinned the concept and design of Great Haddon, with a Sustainability Statement setting out practical ways in which this can be achieved in new development.

David Lock Associates (DLA) has been appointed by LSP Worcester Alliance to prepare a Master Plan Vision for Worcester City Centre. The project will consider how the City Centre can fulfil its potential to support the expansion of Worcester, whilst helping to realise the City’s ambition of becoming a “first rank university and cathedral city”. The project will commence with a benchmarking exercise examining the achievements of comparable cities, before progressing to a broad consultation and master planning exercise. DLA’s team includes Shared Intelligence and Integrated Transport Planning.

David Lock Associates (DLA) has secured outline planning permission on behalf of O&H Properties (O&H) for the residential development of 2.2 hectares of land at Elstow, near Bedford after almost 9 years of negotiations with Bedford Borough Council.

The site, known as West Wixams, is over 4 hectares in size and is partly within Central Bedfordshire and partly within Bedford Borough.  O&H Properties secured planning permission on the Central Bedfordshire part of the site in February 2008 following an appeal. The proposal adjoins Village 4 of The Wixams, a new community of 4,500 homes to the south of Bedford.

Outline consent was granted after completion of an s106 agreement which secures contributions to community infrastructure and a co-ordinated approach to the provision of affordable housing across the administratively split site so as to ease delivery.

The consent has triggered work by DLA and O&H on the discharge of conditions to raise the site out of the 1:200 year flood plain and prepare the site for development in 2010, as O&H report significant developer interest in the site.

Ms Pippa Cheetham, Planning Manager of O&H Properties, said:

"This is great news - at last - as we have worked extremely hard to secure these two consents over many years. We can now put our efforts into preparing the site with the aim of bringing it to the market in the New Year. This underlines our long-term commitment to development of the Marston Vale and the West Wixams scheme and will compliment our other development sites at Stewartby, Marston Moretaine and The Wixams Expansion Areas."

“The Two Towns Trail” also won an award for which DLA prepared the Master Plan. Linking towns Warragul and Drouin by a fully sealed 7.5 kilometre, three metre wide concrete path, each end of the trail leads into a community park and the central business districts. The trail facilitates healthy places for people to live, work and visit and encourages walking and cycling as an activity and active form of transport.

The panel will provide the Council with design and consultancy services over the next 2 years, working alongside existing council teams in the Neighbourhoods and Development, Environment and Leisure Directorates. DLA will be specifically looking to assist Sheffield City Council in developing and reviewing existing Urban Design Frameworks at a more local, neighbourhood level.

As one of England’s largest cities with a population of over 525,000, the City Council’s programme for urban renewal is extensive; over £75m has already been committed from the Housing Market Renewal Programme with another £47m earmarked for the period 2008/11. Part of the “Transform South Yorkshire” project, its aim is to tackle the problem of failing housing markets by creating new, vibrant sustainable places to live.

Reading Borough Council has resolved to grant outline planning permission for the redevelopment of Station Hill, Reading. The proposals will transform the site into a vibrant new quarter made up of offices, apartments and ground floor retail, interspersed with bars, restaurants and food outlets, a cultural / leisure facility, 10 pin bowling alley and major new public spaces. The development features a cluster of tall buildings around a Central Piazza and multi-level connections to adjacent proposals for a new station entrance and public transport interchange. David Lock Associates as part of a large professional team including architects Scott Brownrigg, prepared, submitted and negotiated the planning application on behalf of Sackville Developments (Reading) Ltd.

Please click here to see the full press release.

On Friday the 16th of October DLA in association with Banyule City Council and others received an award and a commendation at the Planning Institute of Australia (Victorian Division) Planning Excellence Awards. The Heidelberg Structure Plan received the Urban Design Award and the Urban Planning Achievement Commendation as part of the Heidelberg Project completed for the City of Banyule.

Award for Urban Design for the Heidelberg Structure Plan as part of the Heidelberg Project

The Heidelberg Project is ambitious in its scale and complexity, encompassing a comprehensive suite of initiatives to strengthen, intensify and integrate a major activity centre and the adjoining biomedical specialised activity centre, which together encompass 215 hectares.

The centrepiece Heidelberg Structure Plan informs about 20 subsidiary outputs, ranging from three-dimensional modelling, built form guidance and strategies for releasing the potential of opportunity sites, to implementation actions including public realm initiatives and statutory planning mechanisms.

The judges noted that as an entry in the Urban Design category the project has integrated and sustained an urban design perspective through its many component outputs, responding to local conditions (such as utilising its distinctive topography to absorb intensified development forms) and providing a framework for reconciling and unifying the sometimes disparate elements of this activity centre.

The judges were particularly impressed with Council’s recognition of the scale and importance of this project through commitment of resources and time proportionate to the scale of the task. This is complemented by a robust engagement process, strong internal leadership and recognition that design quality is an essential prerequisite for acceptance and success.

This has resulted in an exemplary approach to enhancing Heidelberg’s sustainability through intensified development form, enhanced employment opportunities and improved amenity and connectivity.

Commendation for Urban Planning Achievement for the Heidelberg Structure Plan as part of the Heidelberg Project

An interconnected series of projects, undertaken over five years, the Heidelberg Project, is a sound strategic planning framework for planning, governing and managing Heidelberg. The project not only includes the Heidelberg Structure Plan but detailed and specialised planning studies and other well thought out community implementation programs.

The project demonstrates a high level of integrated strategic planning combined with a strong focus on innovation, policy creation, planning scheme and on the ground implementation, place making and ensuring ongoing attraction of investment.

David Lock Associates proposals for 5,500 new homes on the eastern side of Kettering have been given the Green light by Kettering Borough Council planning committee. The Council has decided it is minded to approve the proposals for the East Kettering Sustainable Urban Extension which is a major plank in meeting the Borough’s requirements for 13,100 new homes by 2021, and the largest single housing development in the North Northamptonshire Growth Area.

The proposals for Alledge Brook Limited, a joint venture of Bee Bee Developments and Buccleuch Property, will see new homes, business space, district centre, 4 primary schools and a secondary school developed on land between the A14 and the historic Boughton Estate, home of the Duke of Buccleuch. The proposals are served by a new Junction 10a on the A14, and a new link road - the Weekley Warkton Avenue, connecting to the A43 in the north. The plans will be built out over 15 years and planning permission is expected before Christmas.

As part of a commitment to working and living sustainably we held a Farmer’s Market Day where fresh Veggies, Fruit, home-made Jams and Cakes all grown and made by employees were available to purchase.

A wine tasting event was also held in the evening; proceeds from both events going to local charity Food Bank, who DLA were introduced to through their work with the Milton Keynes Community Foundation. DLA are also collecting supplies throughout the year to go to Food Bank. Based in Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, they distribute parcels of food to those in need; national statistics highlighted on their website show that some wards of Milton Keynes are within 10% of the most deprived areas in England.

http://www.mkfoodbank.org.uk

A planning application for the first stage of development has been given the go ahead.

David Lock Associates are working with developer Places for People to create a new community of over 2,500 homes, with shops, offices and parks at Brooklands in the Eastern Expansion Area.

Following successful negotiations of infrastructure permissions a resolution has been passed by Milton Keynes Partnership, who is responsible for growth, development and investment in the city, to approve the first application for 214 homes at the northern end of the site – between the A5130 Newport Road and Brooklands Meadows.

Construction has already started on the creation of the project's green spaces and infrastructure with housing construction anticipated to commence early next year.

David Lock Associates has secured outline planning permission for 730 new homes and supporting shops and employment on land north of Stewartby in the Marston Vale, Bedfordshire. Working on behalf of O&H Properties, David Lock Associates has successfully negotiated jointly with Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire to secure outline planning permissions accompanied by a s106 agreement. Work will now begin on technical studies required to discharge conditions, and construction will start following the planned completion of the A421 improvements.

The site, next to the approved Berryfields Major Development Area, and close to the recently opened Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station, is on the A41 Primary Public Transport Corridor (PPTC) into the town centre. It already has a long history of settlement, having witnessed a small Roman town and a medieval village, the church of which still stands and which it’s proposed will become the heart of the community once again.

The considerable expansion of the town also proposes 30,000 sqm of employment floorspace, a primary school, retail floorspace, a care home, a community recycling facility, a doctor’s surgery, a gym, and 1300 sqm of multi-functional community space, as well as a railway station for use by planned East-West Rail services.

Also, significantly, more than 90 hectares of the 176 hectare site would be multi-functional, publicly accessible Green Infrastructure, accommodating allotments, community orchards and interpretation facilities, as well as extensive meadowland; and meeting Aylesbury Vale District Council’s highly challenging requirement for at least 50% of land in the strategic development areas around Aylesbury to be Green Infrastructure.

CABE’s Design Review Panel has considered the proposals, which have been master planned by Robert Adam Architects in association with Turley Associates and involving the landscape architect Duncan Thomas; and said “we applaud the client’s passion and commitment to create a sustainable and vibrant community. The depth of the analysis and the clarity of thought apparent in the comprehensive presentation to the panel are impressive and the resulting scheme has many merits. We welcome the contextual approach, the rich offer of public spaces and the successful integration of existing natural features.”

Milton Keynes’ annual Dragon Boat Race has taken place with a fine display from David Lock Associates.  60 Companies took part in the event at Willen Lake, which was watched by thousands of spectators. The races, based on an ancient Chinese tradition, took place along a 250 metre course.

A team of 15 employees from DLA and DLA Architects donned suitable attire before taking their place in the water. And despite the blistering heat, DLA put up a sterling performance to come third in the mixed-crew category after three races, including coming only half a boat’s length down against this years overall winner.

Planning permission was granted in Northern Ireland today for Lafarge Cement UK's redevelopment of the company’s redundant Works and Quarry at Magheramorne on the shore of Larne Lough, 22 miles north of Belfast.
Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson approved plans submitted by Lafarge in May 2006 which will see the bulk of the 153 hectare site transformed into a major recreational and leisure attraction with a World Cycling Centre as the central feature. The Centre aims to be one of the best venues in Europe for downhill mountain biking and is expected to play host to televised World Cup events.

An All-Ireland Scuba Diving Centre, taking advantage of a large lake in the quarry, also features amongst the recreational and leisure elements, as does a short heritage railway line and historic railway visitor centre for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. The plans also include many opportunities for bird watching and enjoying the outlook over the lough.

On 15 hectares of the site, on land where the cement works buildings once operated, a new 450-dwelling harbour village is to be created. Buildings here will be at the forefront of eco-friendly design. Lafarge is to forego all profit it would ordinarily receive from obtaining residential land values on this part of the site in order to help subsidise additional costs associated with the ultra-green development as well as to help with the establishment of the recreational and leisure uses which would not otherwise be viable operations.

Lafarge Cement UK land and planning director, David Simms explains: “For the best part of a hundred years, the cement works at Magheramorne was a major employer in the area and a fundamental part of the day-to-day life of the local community. This project is a big ‘thank you’ to the local community. It is not about making money, it is about leaving a legacy from which the next generation can benefit, at the same time as creating an exemplar of how we can all live our lives in a more environmentally-conscious way.

"In 2000, Lafarge was the first industrial company to become a WWF Conservation Partner. Now we are working with WWF to establish the harbour village at Magheramorne as one of the very first One Planet Initiative Communities in which residents aim to use only their fair share of the earth’s resources.”

Also included in the future plans for the site is land for the establishment of international film and television studios. Over the past five years, both the old works area and the quarry have been used for a variety of productions including the BBC’s thriller Messiah.

Lafarge Cement UK’s rating and regeneration manager, Lloyd McInally, who has project managed the plans for Magheramorne, is very positive about the significant benefits that will result from proposals: “The site – equivalent in size to 220 football pitches – is the largest ‘previously-used’ or ‘brownfield’ site awaiting redevelopment in Northern Ireland and represents a unique opportunity to transform the fortunes of the local and regional economy. It is expected that 400 jobs will be created once the development is complete and many millions of pounds spent on the site and locally by visitors to the various attractions.

“The local Belfast-Larne railway line will also receive a boost with many more people using Magheramorne Station which is to be integrated within the new development.

“The potential of the Magheramorne site will come as a real surprise to many people in Northern Ireland. Maybe some people will remember the Works from back in the 1980s when cement production and quarrying was in full swing, but the fact is that for a site of its size it is visibly well hidden. But I now expect awareness of Magheramorne to increase enormously and for it to become a ‘must visit’ location on the Antrim Coast.”

Town Planning and Urban Design consultancy, David Lock Associates, have acted as lead consultants and master planners on the project since work began in 2002 on formulating a new future for the site. Jim Urwin, director of the company, says: “There are many aspects of the Magheramorne site which have made it a very special project. There is the sheer size of it and the drama of the quarry faces. There is the challenge of working next to Larne Lough (which is a Special Protection Area because of its birdlife), and of finding uses for the site that will bring real benefits to the area and which can be made to work alongside one another.

“Then there is the amazing support we have had from the people in the local community who have worked with us on our plans almost since the outset. Never before have I known members of the public to come forward and ask to man our exhibitions when we first told them of our intention to hold a series of public consultation events.”

Also special is the planning case put forward in support of the proposal. The Belfast office of Turley Associates has provided local town planning services and managed the planning application and environmental assessment processes. Turley Director, Dr. Michael Gordon, says: “There is no statutory plan which foresaw the closure of the cement works and what might be put in its place. Given that the site is not defined as being within an urban area, the onus has been on the applicant to illustrate exceptional circumstances ‘in the public interest’ to justify the residential element within the overall proposal. It is these special circumstances which the Minister has acknowledged today in giving the go-ahead for the project.”

On the future timetable for the project, Lloyd McInally says: “Now that we have the confidence of having obtained an outline planning permission, we will be continuing our discussions more intensely with the many organisations we have established contact with during the last few years. Then we will move towards the submission of detailed plans for approval by the authorities. I would like to think that some development work could start on the site as early as next year.”

--------- ENDS --------

Notes to Editors
1. A Notice of Approval has today been issued by the Minister for the Environment. It is now for his officers in the Northern Ireland Planning Service to finalise the conditions to be attached to the planning permission prior to formal issue of the approval. This should take place shortly.
2. Cement production ceased at Magheramorne in 1990. Silos continued to be used for the storage of imported cement until 2001 when the Works officially closed, although for a further year some of the buildings were let to the third parties for non-cement purposes. There is no planning requirement for the site to be restored in any way.
3. Larne Lough is a Special Protection Area (SPA), designated under European Directive EEC-79-409, commonly known as the Birds Directive. It is internationally important for breeding terns and wintering light-bellied brent geese. Larne Lough is also an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), a national site designation, for saltmarsh habitats and other wintering waterbirds. The proposals for the Magheramorne site include mitigation measures to ensure that the wildlife features are protected and enhanced, including buffer zones around the lough shore and areas set aside as nature reserves.
4. Images of the site and plans of the proposals are contained in a separate media pack (with own index of contents) available at the site announcement Friday 26 June 2009 10.15am. Also included in the pack is a computer-generated fly-through film of the proposed development.
5. More details on the site and the proposal can be found at www.magworks.info. For further information on WWF’s One Planet Initiative please go to www.wwf.org.uk and enter ‘One Planet Initiative’ into the search box.

For further information, please contact:
Lafarge Cement UK - Michele Wheatley – 07881 731658
David Lock Associates - Jim Urwin, director - 01908 666276
Turley Associates (Belfast) - Thomas Bell / Dr Michael Gordon – 028 90897400

Click here to view enlarged version of the image on the right

Plans are underway to transform one of the Midland’s largest Brownfield sites in South Derbyshire into a residential area with over 2,200 new homes.

David Lock Associates has submitted a planning application, on behalf of Roger Bullivant Ltd and E.ON UK plc, for a sustainable mixed-use scheme at Drakelow Park to meet local housing, employment and recreational needs. As well as the new homes, the proposals include plans for new employment uses, local centres, new infrastructure and the re-use of listed buildings. David Lock Associates also prepared the master plan for the site and has been advising on its development since 2004.

Drakelow Park sits on land that was once part of the former coal-fired power station which lies within South Derbyshire and the East Midlands, but immediately adjoins Burton upon Trent in the West Midlands.

Milton Keynes has played host to the opening of the British Cycling Tour Series for 2009. As part of the series, the country’s top cycling teams raced along a 1.33km circuit of beautiful tree-lined boulevards in the city centre.

To coincide with the event, David Lock Associates held their first DLA Bike to work Day of the year. 18 eager employees donned suitable attire to cycle into the office, where a hearty breakfast awaited them!

Numerous cycling events for the Series took place throughout the day, centering around Midsummer Boulevard; DLA employees were invited to participate further in the activities, by cycling down to ‘The Hub’ at lunchtime to view some of the proceedings.

The cycle to work day forms part of DLA’s Travel Plan which aims to encourage employees to cycle into the office on a more regular basis, adopting more environmentally friendly ways to get into work and helped by a discounted cycle purchase scheme.

David Lock Associates became a corporate member of the society following a presentation at our offices in 2007 and have supported them ever since.

This year’s event “Mapping at Work” takes place at Harben House in Newport Pagnell, from the 17th – 20th June. Representatives from various fields at DLA will attend the 3 day Symposium which will include presentations and workshops, and, for the first time, an afternoon of expert tuition delivered by two of the Society’s Special Interest Groups; the Design Group and the GIS Group.  Please click here for more information.

Keen to practice what we preach in our consultancy, the initiative is an important part of DLA’s Sustainability Policy. The aim of the Plan is to reduce single occupancy car journeys by staff, maximising walking, cycling and the use of public transport instead.

Car Sharing is also being encouraged with DLA promising to subsidise staff who join the MK Car Share Scheme – there is also a bus discount with the MK Car Share Card (costing just 65 pence to travel anywhere in Milton Keynes).

Personal travel planning is being offered to all David Lock employees on a one to one basis, with help to research the most viable green routes into work.

Alongside these benefits are the social and health rewards that the Travel Plan will hopefully reap. Other incentives include cheap loans to purchase a bike to travel to work, cycle mileage for business trips, and regular prize draws for green travellers!

David Lock Associates have a long tradition of supporting the Arts in Milton Keynes, and Milton Keynes based artists in particular. One local artist, the late Bill Billings, has long been associated with Milton Keynes and we are pleased to announce that Bill’s work is due to be exhibited as part of an Arts Open Weekend in the city.

“Bill Billings – A Retrospective” is being staged by local artist group AIM. With free entry, the exhibition will be on display at the AIM Gallery at 759 Midsummer Boulevard from 6th May – 6th June.

DLA have agreed to loan two of their own paintings by Bill for the show and they are also sponsoring a Workshop for young people which is to be run by Ryan Billings on the 16th and 17th May. Further Details can be obtained from wcousins@davidlock.com or aimatthegallery@aol.co.uk

The land covers a 3.5 mile stretch of the south bank of the Thames between Dartford and Gravesham within the Kent Thameside area – a total of approximately 710 ha (1,750 acres).

The study – which is expected to be completed in July – will be used in the development of the Dartford and Gravesham Core Strategies, which will provide a framework for the regeneration of these key opportunity areas.

In total, more than £30 million is expected to be invested in the area’s waterfront to facilitate mixed-use development, infrastructure improvements and new areas of open space. In addition to Northfleet and Swanscombe, areas set for improvement include Gravesend town centre, the River Darent, Dartford Marsh, Greenhithe and the Thames & Medway Canal, along with new water frontages created through the introduction of sustainable urban drainage systems.

Chairman of the Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership, KCC Cabinet Member Kevin Lynes, said:
“Kent Thameside is the largest regeneration area in Europe and the river is the vital element which holds it together. We want to make the most of the area's riverside location. This framework will be a good starting point for the plans to give the riverside a new look and attract investment.”

Jim Urwin, Project Director at David Lock Associates said:
“This is an important area within Kent Thameside where a new vision needs to be forged and we are delighted that the Regeneration Partnership has taken the lead in addressing this issue with Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils.”

www.kent-thameside.co.uk

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Laura Torrance tel: 0870 626 9033 laura.torrance@fourcommunications.com
Marion Hardman tel 0870 626 9030, marion.hardman@fourcommunications.com

Notes to editors:

The Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership covers the boroughs of Dartford, and Gravesham north of the A2 in Kent, including Ebbsfleet International Station, Ebbsfleet Valley and Bluewater as well as Dartford and Gravesend town centres.

It is responsible for managing the delivery of 50,000 new jobs and 30,000 new homes over the next 20 to 30 years as well as creating a network of open spaces, promoting town centres in the area and achieving a significant shift from car use to public transport.

Kent Thameside’s Waterfront is one of the top ten housing locations identified in the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan. The DCLG has prioritised its funding to secure housing programmes in these locations, where extra homes are most urgently needed. The strategic framework sets out how this additional housing will be delivered alongside the many different roles Kent Thameside’s waterfront serves.

The 27 hectare (69 acre) site in Strood is jointly owned by Lafarge, Medway Council and timber merchants Morgan and Company.

Involved in the project since 2004, DLA are seeking outline planning for up to 620 homes, and up to 12,300 sq metres of mixed-use employment and retail floor space, creating up to 250 jobs.

A Riverside Park will also be created at the Temple Waterfront site with wildlife habitats protected and enhanced.

View the Illustrative Aerial Perspective.

DLA have been commissioned by Eastbourne Borough Council to produce an Area Action Plan (AAP) for Eastbourne town centre. Although Eastbourne is a successful and popular tourist destination with a rich and attractive townscape and strong Victorian heritage the town centre currently underperforms. There is a recognised need to attract additional retail floorspace and provide a more diverse mix of uses, including residential development, to complement the existing range of facilities on offer. The AAP will provide a strong policy basis from which to drive forward beneficial change.

DLA won the commission following an open tender process and will lead a multi-discipline team comprising Integrated Transport Planning, BPS Chartered Surveyors and Waterman Environmental. The project commences immediately and will take the AAP from initial policy themes and spatial options stage through to adoption.

David Lock Associates have been commissioned by a development consortium comprising Whitefriars Housing Association, Bovis, Keepmoat Homes and Westbury Partnership to prepare a design code for phase 1 of the renewal of the WEHM area of Coventry, which falls under the New Deal for Communities initiative.

The project will be run on a collaborative basis, with input from a wide range of organisations including residents’ representatives, the HCA, CABE and the local planning and highways authorities. The first stage of the project will examine the level of application of the HCA development standards and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The academy opened in September 2008 after David Lock Associates acted swiftly to obtain planning permission in a very short time period for the project. This was to help Mercedes-Benz UK Limited fulfil their training requirements after their previous outsourced provider went into administration in March 2008.

The facility provides training for those employed within the Mercedes-Benz franchised network across the country and brings real high skilled jobs to Milton Keynes. The £2.9 million academy has also helped the local economy. A total of 22 people are employed at the academy, a hotel provides the apprentices’ accommodation and a coach company transports them between the hotel and the academy.

This is the latest in a series of consents that David Lock Associates has gained for the European multi-national company at both its UK headquarters in Milton Keynes and in London.

Also, practically, a number of staff have carried out voluntary work for the Milton Keynes Parks Trust – a local charity that has to maintain the 20 percent of Milton Keynes which is heavily landscaped open space. The most recent example of this being over two sunny days in March when 20 volunteers from DLA helped restore Willen Maze at Willen Lake. The turf maze had become overgrown in recent years and the project involved redefining the edges and uncovering the pathways to help restore the maze as a prominent landmark and land art feature in the park.

There is also continued support of a children’s local football team with sponsorship and qualified FA coaching expertise by DLA staff: Massimo Grimaldi, Ron Gibbons and Roger Carman and Robert Purton as a qualified UK Athletics coach for Marshall Milton Keynes Athletics Club. Robert – Associate Director - explained, “Being involved in the local community on a practical basis in times of hardship helps DLA aid the local community and provides our staff with a new insight into the practical use of the types of places we master plan for our clients each day. Indeed, the insight this type of voluntary work provides has already been fed into a commission we have undertaken for Sport England called ‘Active Design’ which has been endorsed by CABE, the Department of Health and DCMS.”

Gordon Brown visited Adastral Park on Thursday 26th February, where he reviewed a model of our Master Plan for the site along with Phil Dance, Senior Manager at the Park and Managing Director of Technology Exploitation and Graham Murchie, Strategy Director, Adastral Park Development.

David Lock Associates have been commissioned by BT to prepare the Master Plan and development strategy to accommodate BT’s long term operational requirements at Adastral Park. A planning application has been submitted to Suffolk Coastal District Council for the comprehensive redevelopment of the site, including refurbishing and improving existing buildings as well as adding new homes and facilities to support business, education, leisure and retail. DLA’s proposals would create a truly sustainable, carbon-efficient new community that provides options for BT’s operational requirements.

Adastral Park is one of BT’s most important global business sites. Established in the late 1960s, it has developed a deserved international reputation for innovation and excellence in communications technology research and development (R&D) and pioneering new solutions. The people who work there are responsible for many major advances in telecoms technology, including breakthrough Internet applications and the latest generation of fibre optics.

Nearly 4,000 BT employees work at Adastral Park with a further 400 working for other companies located on site. Adastral Park is an integral and important part of the regional economy, contributing £850M annually. The development plans for the site will ensure that this remains the case long into the future.

For more information on the proposals go to www.adastralvision.co.uk

Ebbsfleet Valley, North Kent
A 25 year strategy formulated by DLA for the development of the Kent Thames-side area of Thames Gateway. It is one of the largest private sector regeneration initiatives of recent times in the UK.

View the Ebbsfleet Valley project sheet

Priors Hall, Corby
A £1.2 billion investment in North East Corby which will include over 5,000 new homes, a district centre and major central park, plus the Corby Academy which is now complete and open. DLA produced the Master Plan as well as developing the Phase 1 Design Code.

View the Priors Hall project sheet

Brierley Hill, Near Dudley
A scheme to integrate the existing Merry Hill shopping centre with some of the surrounding area to make a new town centre. The initial vision won the 1998 RTPI award for urban design. DLA is now assisting Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council with preparation of an Area Action Plan, to guide implementation of the town centre.

View the Brierley Hill project sheet

Holbeck Urban Village, Leeds
Redundant warehousing and the Grade I listed Flax Mill Temple Works are to be transformed into a mixed-use urban quarter that will provide 875,000 sq ft of sustainable city living and commercial employment.

View the Holbeck Urban Village project sheet

Brooklands, Milton Keynes
An urban extension on 160ha of land, immediately adjacent to Junction 14 of the M1 and the historical village of Broughton. The development will include over 2,500 mixed tenure homes, three schools, a hotel, office and industrial accommodation, a community hall and sports pavilion, football pitches and two restaurants. Enabling infrastructure is presently on site and DLA are retained as planning consultants and design advisors.

View the Brooklands project sheet

Broughton Manor Farm, Milton Keynes
Broughton Atterbury is one of the few Greenfield demonstration urban villages to be promoted by Urban Villages Forum, now the Princes Foundation. The DLA competition winning scheme is being implemented with a first tranche of 250 new homes, which incorporate many innovations to save energy and encourage more sustainable lifestyles.

View the Broughton Manor Farm project sheet

Oxley Park MK, near Milton Keynes
DLA prepared the master plan for the development of 1300 new homes, a primary school, local retail and commercial premises and the retention of a site of specific scientific interest at Oxley Park, construction of which is now underway.

View the Oxley Park MK project sheet

After a cold January with its doomsday credit-crunch predictions, and early February with its traffic-stopping snow, DLA decided it was high time to enjoy something warm and sweet……by celebrating Pancake Day!

Red noses were donned and the courtyard turned into an outdoor kitchen to raise money for Comic Relief 2009.

Nearly one hundred pancakes were consumed by our hungry staff and £80 collected for the cause.

A historic building in the centre of Leeds could get its first public airing.

Built circa 1840, Temple Works is a Grade 1 listed former Flax Mill that resembles the Temple of Horus at Edfu in Egypt. It is infamous for having a flat roof where sheep used to graze.

But it has never been open to the general public having been used in previous years for warehousing, following its use for flax manufacturing.

Now vacant, five planning applications have been submitted by David Lock Associates, on behalf of SJS Property Management Ltd, to transform the site. These include moves to demolish its 1953 extension, which detracts from the setting of the Grade 1 listed building – it’s proposed the demolition of the extension could make way for the use of the cleared area as a public car park.

Full planning permission to temporarily use the building as a multi-purpose performance, exhibition and events venue is also being sought, which would allow the public to appreciate the interior for the first time in its history; and Listed Building Consent for structural strengthening has also been applied for, as part of the building collapsed in 2008.

The moves are part of the Holbeck Urban Village regeneration project; a multi-million pound scheme by Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Forward to revitalise the area and create a new business and residential community.

On 13th February 2009, five years after it was blueprinted on David Lock Associates’ Priors Hall master plan, the £30 million Corby Business Academy was officially opened by the Prime Minster.

The ambitious Priors Hall master plan, which took a holistic approach to the regeneration of Corby, created a clear vision of embedding the proposed town extension within the existing community. The Academy was put forward as a principle element in the first phase of the development. Located in the District Centre, the Academy will be a catalyst in promoting the integration of the new community and the existing town and giving the Academy Square, the principle civic square, a sense of place.

Jointly funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Northamptonshire County Council, Bee Bee Development and the Weston Foundation, the Academy offers a state-of-the-art education opportunity to the pupils in Corby. Most pupils were transferred from the closed Corby Community College. The new Academy has already lifted their inspirations for the future and transformed their learning attitude.

The Academy building, designed by Foster & Partners, has undoubtedly laid down the architectural standard of the development. Safeguarding the consistent high quality in architecture and public realm design, the Design Code for the first phase of 2,600 dwellings, the district centre, and a new primary school has also been finalised by David Lock Associates and approved by Corby Borough Council as a development control tool.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has confirmed the appointment of a new panel of Property Consultants to help SEEDA and its partners deliver regeneration and development projects across the South East over the next four years. David Lock Associates has been appointed to the Planning and Development sub-lot.

NUDA, the Nordic Urban Design Association has launched its new website. NUDA is a non-profit organisation which aims to gather qualified urban designers from the Nordic countries as members for the purpose of stronger promoting urban design as a necessity within city planning. Will Cousins, a Director at David Lock Associates, is a member of the Board.

An important issue for NUDA is the establishment of urban design as a field of education strongly promoted through the NUDA Education Program. The annual Nordic Urban Design Conference will be taking place on 20th February in Bergen, Norway.

http://www.nuda.no/

Now Suffolk Coastal District Council and Suffolk County Council have secured over a million pounds in funding, to invest in a number of regeneration schemes for the seaside resort.

These include Streetscape Improvements to the Hamilton Road High Street; revitalization of the town’s Triangle Public Space and the Seafront Gardens; and shared space street improvements at Bent Hill – all projects identified in the Master Plan drawn up by David Lock Associates.

DLA’s recommendations for improving arts in the area are also being acted upon with plans for an Arts Trail on the Seafront. Improvements to the cycle path between Felixstowe and Trimley are also to be taken forward, following advice from DLA to enhance cycle routes in the town.

Please click on the following links for more information;

- Felixstowe Seafront & Town Centre Master Plan website 

- Felixstowe Seafront & Town Centre Master Plan project sheet

- Felixstowe Local Strategy project sheet

Under the auspices of the Milton Keynes Community Foundation (www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk) David Lock Associates have set up the David Lock Associates Community Fund. The aim is to create an endowment over the next three years that will then fund community development projects in Milton Keynes, DLA’s birthplace and home town. This is our opportunity as good citizens to support the marvellous community development work that was started by the Development Corporation. It is hoped that DLA employees will support community activities by giving additional time and expertise.

At a time when the financial crisis shows no signs of easing it may not seem entirely appropriate to be making such a commitment. However, it is precisely these circumstances that make continued and enhanced support of such organisations so urgent, because the grants that they are able to make are needed more than ever. This has been their biggest year of grant making, which means that there is even more to be lost if funds fall away.

David Lock Associates has also been examining the potential for Community Foundations to become more widely engaged in the creation of new communities across the country, providing an additional means of support for community activities away from the straightjacket of S106 agreements and Council funding regimes.

David Lock Associates has won the design contest run by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation to prepare a master plan for Northampton’s waterside area. The company is now appointed to develop a range of ideas for the regeneration of the waterside, including the creation of a new riverside park for the 21st Century, strengthening connections between the water and Northampton’s town centre, and identifying new development opportunities. The project will commence in early 2009. Engaging with stakeholders to build consensus around the proposals will form an essential element of the project, and a large scale public consultation event will be held in the town centre to attract contributions from the town’s residents.

Please click here to see press release from WNDC in Planning magazine.

Sunderland City Council has adopted an Urban Design Strategy SPD for the city centre. The strategy was prepared by DLA working closely with both the city council and Sunderland arc. The document sets out strategic design guidance for Sunderland’s central area as well as more detailed guidance relating to key development and public realm priorities. The Urban design Strategy is now being actively used to help shape and guide development proposals as they come forward within the city.

Click to view the document PDF