What's New?

The updated Active Design Guidance was released recently, drafted by DLA on behalf of our clients Sport England.

David Lock Associates has recently submitted an Outline Planning Application (OPA) on behalf of Hannick Homes &…

Homes England, has named David Lock Associates as one of 10 suppliers on Lot 2 of the Development and Regeneration…

Masterplan Framework document to deliver around 950 new homes, 250 specialist elderly dwellings, together with a…

In December 2022, the UK Government released a consultation document proposing changes to the National Planning Policy…

David Lock on why we need to talk about a proposed long-distance network of drone based delivery ‘superhighways.’

DLA is pleased to announce the promotion of Emily Benstead to the role of Planner. This recognition is a result of…

Planning policy and practice is falling apart.

Houlton School wins the RTPI Award for Planning Excellence for ‘Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture’

David Lock Associates is delighted to be working with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (part of UK…

We are looking for enthusiastic, bright and committed graduate planners to join our leading spatial planning practice…

David Lock Associates is delighted to announce several new appointments following a recent recruitment drive, and…

David Lock Associates recently secured full planning permission for three flexible B2/B8 units at Prospero Ansty…

David Lock Associates, on behalf of our client Vistry Homes, have recently secured detailed planning permission from…

We're delighted to be hosting Milton Keynes: 'What's the Point?' on October 20th, with Milton Keynes City Council at…

We are seeking an enthusiastic Assistant CAD Operator to join our team.

The ‘Effective Delivery of Strategic Sites: A Toolkit for Planning Authorities’ has won at the RTPI Awards for Research…

David Lock Associates, with PAS and the LGA, are delighted to have been shortlisted for the RTPI Awards for Research…

The Baytree Logistics Development Ltd ‘Baytree Milton Keynes’ industrial and distribution units recently became fully…

As part of DLA’s longstanding work with Sport England, we have recently been commissioned to update their Active Design…

Today is the Memorial and Celebration of Life of our dear friend and former colleague, Ken Baker, hosted by the Fred…

The Levelling up & Regeneration Bill landed on 11 May. Behold! a new plan-making framework starts to appear as you read…

Houlton School has won the award for 'Best Project' at the West Midlands RTPI Awards 2022.

We recently took a team of our planners and designers to a local secondary school, with Hallam Land, and ran workshops…

David Lock Associates, on behalf of our client Hallam Land, have received outline planning permission for up to 42…

David Lock Associates are recruiting graduate Urban Designers, to join our dynamic and growing team and work on our…

David Lock Associates are delighted to have been appointed to update and review Sport England’s Active Design Guidance,…

David Lock Associates, working on behalf of Bellway Homes, have secured permission for an Overarching Design Code for…

Houlton School has won the award for best use of heritage in placemaking at the Planning Awards 2022.

DLA is pleased to be supporting L&Q Estates and the local community in setting-up an innovative Community Interest…

David Lock Associates, in collaboration with Procter & Matthews Architects and Participatr have been appointed by…

Last month the Two Mile Ash Bluebell Circuit was launched, a local recreational route opening up two areas of woodland,…

In honour of Milton Keynes’ newfound city status, we’ve looked back at our Urban Provocation series which paid homage…

David Lock Associates are delighted to have been appointed by Homes England, under the Multi Disciplinary Panel…

After it’s ‘creation’ over 50 years ago, and on its 4th attempt to gain city status Milton Keynes has finally had the…

David Lock Associates is delighted to announce the promotion of Dan West to Planner within the company.

For those whose lives are stuck in a bad way, the Levelling Up White Paper is full of wonderful prospects; the issue…

David Lock Associates are recruiting graduate and MRTPI chartered planners to join our dynamic and growing planning…

This week a series of major agreements and permissions have been completed resulting in a comprehensive plan for the…

It’s been 10 years since the introduction of the NPPF and the Localism Act, and local planning authorities have since…

David Lock Associates, alongside our colleagues at master developer Urban&Civic and Rugby Borough Council, have been…

David Lock Associates, alongside Buckland Development and Fareham Brough Council, have been shortlisted for the 2022…

The DLA project team working on the Hanwood Park Sustainable Urban Extension recently visited the site and are pleased…

To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, we invited our colleagues to sit down and discuss their experiences…

The revised plans for HS2 and rail in the North and the Midlands are well judged against needs, rather than a betrayal…

David Lock Associates has recently submitted, on behalf of Hallam Land Management, an outline application to Cherwell…

Our new Heritage brochure showcases DLA’s expertise and long experience in planning for the historic environment.

David Lock Associates in collaboration with Fathom Architects have been appointed by the Science and Technology…

The Outline Planning Application for Welborne has received planning permission from Fareham Borough Council, following…

David Lock Associates’ portfolio of exciting projects continues to expand. We are now looking to recruit two senior…

We are looking for enthusiastic, bright and committed planners to join our leading spatial planning practice next…

This year has bought some significant changes for the planning sector, which has opened the conversation up about…

The expansion of the hugely successful Dollman Farm area at Houlton has recently been completed with the opening of a…

A major milestone has been reached at Wykham Park Farm, Banbury, with the approval of the site-wide Design Code by…

While COVID-19 distracted us, the Oxford-Cambridge Arc (as it now called) moved along, although the project still…

On Wednesday 20th October, DLA were delighted to present proposals for the redevelopment of Sevenoaks Quarry, Kent, at…

Work has commenced on the construction of seven dwellings on a canal-edge site in Milton Keynes following an innovative…

We’re delighted to welcome several new DLA team members to our office in Milton Keynes. We

Today sees the launch of the LGA Toolkit for the Effective Delivery of Strategic Sites.  DLA worked with the LGA to…

A major milestone has been reached today at Houlton, Rugby, with the opening of Houlton School.

Cathedral Plaza, as it was termed, was our suggestion to create a new urban space that could help establish not only a…

David Lock Associates has announced a series of senior promotions and graduate recruitment, adding strength to its…

The loud and well resourced opponents of planning, and particularly the 1947 settlement, are misreading the politics of…

David Lock Associates has been engaged in the promotion and delivery of the new town north of Cambridge, at Waterbeach,…

Work is now underway to bring forward proposals for the northern expansion of Baldock in Hertfordshire. David Lock…

Following the issuing of the Inspectors’ Report finding the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan sound, the authority…

Stevenage Borough Council recently went live with their public consultation, to gain thoughts on the area around the…

Having negotiated outline planning permission for the Priors Hall development in Corby in March, DLA have now submitted…

2020 was a memorable year for many reasons, specifically in the world of logistics; the sector broke all previous…

With our office hub being in Central Milton Keynes and having being situated here for more than 30 years, the new town…

Outline planning permission for the ongoing easterly expansion of Kettering known as Hanwood Park and delivering as…

David Lock Associates’ portfolio of exciting projects continues to expand, and we are now looking to recruit.

The RICS has issued new guidance for financial viability assessments in planning (FVAs). The new guidance supports the…

David Lock Associates is recruiting Senior Associate/Associate/Senior level planners

We are delighted to be launching the DLA Digital Studio!

The Ox Cam Expressway has been ‘cancelled’ so where does that leave strategic infrastructure?

DLA has secured outline planning permission for 310 new homes to the south of Macclesfield, on behalf of Vistry Group.

This International Women’s Day presented us with a unique situation, given the current climate we aren’t able to…

Cranbrook has reached another hugely significant milestone this January with approval of East Devon District Council’s…

During the global pandemic the importance of data centres has been realised, they are key pieces of national…

David Lock Associates and our architect colleagues at Bryden Wood have been named as finalists in the category for…

DLA have successfully secured detailed planning permission, on behalf of our client Baytree Logistics Properties.

David Lock Associates is delighted to announce the promotions of Victoria Owen and Matthew Hewitt to Planner positions…

We are delighted to see the regeneration story at Doncaster continuing at pace with the completion of the new Railway…

Friday marked the end of our second week of Virtual Work Experience at David Lock Associates. Building on the success…

DLA are proud to be included, with our architect colleagues at Bryden Wood, in the London 21 RIBA publication for the…

The Planning for the Future White Paper proposes establishing housing requirements that factor in land constraints.…

We are recruiting Associate and Senior Associate level planners to join our busy and innovative company.

We are looking for senior masterplanners with an outstanding track record to work on some of the UK's most significant…

DLA is recruiting graduate planners and virtual work experience candidates.

DLA has secured two unanimous resolutions to grant outline planning permission at committee for a major cross-boundary…

In her headline speech at the TCPA Annual Conference, DLA’s Managing Partner Julia Foster argues that successful reform…

We are looking for enthusiastic, bright and committed planners and urban designers to join our leading spatial planning…

DLA recently exhibited at a BEN Conference to highlight our work with Garden Communities & New Towns.

Following a review of DLA's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) activities by the Institute of Environmental…

DLA is delighted to have secured planning permission from Rugby Borough Council, on behalf of Manse Opus (Ansty) LLP,…

As one of the largest independent town planning and urban design consultancy practices in the UK, DLA welcomes the…

David Lock Associates is delighted to be appointed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to advise on masterplanning and…

David Lock Associates has helped clients - Icon Design & Build - secure planning permission for an 84-bedroom Care Home…

As the long autumn shadows stretch across the courtyard at North Thirteenth Street, we are settling into a new term.…

Support for the principle of major reform of the planning system is widespread, but the Planning White Paper's ideas…

DLA has won the award for plan-making at the Planning Awards 2020 for our work on the Strategic Growth Study for Milton…

DLA has been delighted to work with Sport England on their Making a Planning Application Guide, which has recently been…

In an article for the TCPA celebrating 'Welwyn Garden City at 100', David Lock outlines the contribution of Frederic…

Driven by and named after Article 25 of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25 is a…

David Lock Associates (DLA) has obtained outline planning permission on behalf of Mr Peter Dean and Archaylen Property…

This week we have been representing Hallam Land Management at the virtual South Oxfordshire Local Plan Examination in…

Has confidence in planning as a public service ever been so low? Like most, I have been watching with interest as the…

Plans for ‘Phase Two’ of the Hayle Harbour regeneration project have been submitted to Cornwall Council by David Lock…

This week we're embarking on our biggest technical challenge of lockdown so far. We've had DLA staff meetings with 60+…

Part one of this blog considered the temporary measures which have been introduced regarding relaxation of the rules on…

This two-part blog outlines how the planning system has been temporarily relaxed in response to COVID-19, how the…

When COVID-19 entered our vocabulary earlier this year, the virus was considered to be a great leveller. We all stood…

That debt laden Intu finally went into administration last Friday did not come entirely as a shock to many observers of…

David Lock Associates were asked by the Two Mile Ash Environmental Group (TMAEG) if we could, as part of the company's…

Senior Urban Designer Owen Reading questions the role of symbols in our public spaces.

With The Planning Inspectorate's (PINS) move to "virtual" hearings and inquiries, DLA's Duncan Chadwick and Landmark…

DLA's Heather Pugh reflects on the commentary on the perceived success of the current round of Garden Villages…

Senior Urban Designer/Planner Scott Gibson looks at how we can design our streets, to play a role in decarbonising…

As lockdown continues, DLA's Simon Collier rediscovers the teachings of classic urban design text that is Christopher…

A hat-trick of reserved matters applications for the Glenvale Park Sustainable Urban Extension at Wellingborough were…

It's time for a coordinated campaign for changes to public policy so that success is measured not only by the financial…

Today, South Cambridgeshire District Council approved the Design Code for the first phase of development at Waterbeach.…

Urban Designer Owen Reading writes about the human value of our local parks and the lessons we can learn for the design…

Viruses are historically the enemy of computing capabilities. However, COVID-19 has caused a dramatic spike in the…

The Duty to Cooperate (DtC) has brought several Local Plans crashing down at Examination. The latest victim being the…

David Lock on the Department for Transport's decision to open up UK skies to advertising and messaging through…

Since moving to Milton Keynes from London two years ago my family and I very quickly grew to love the city’s park…

The Local Plan Inspector’s rejection of two out of the three North Essex Garden Communities again shines a light on a…

Nottingham City Council was successfully awarded grant funding from the Local Government Association's Building Homes…

In less than 90 days, COVID-19 has changed the global logistics economy forever. For decades outdated misconceptions by…

I suspect the wider recovery will begin with WACD (What Amazon Can't Do), the problem is that a lot of this is about…

DLA is delighted to announce two important promotions. Our colleague Nick Walker is promoted to Lead GIS Specialist,…

Following the grant of outline planning permission in December 2019 for development proposals submitted by DLA, L&Q…

David Lock Associates have recently completed the Hinckley Town Centre Public Realm Masterplan for Hinckley & Bosworth…

As the lockdown reduces pressure on the natural world, DLA's Owen Reading recalls a trip to Chernobyl, where nature's…

Spelthorne Borough Council has appointed a team led by town planning and urban design experts David Lock Associates to…

We're pursuing planning applications with 51 councils across England. On behalf of our clients, we're monitoring the…

David Lock Associates sends our very best wishes to our entire community and beyond, as we continue to face very…

Working on behalf of Hanwood Park LLP, the principal developer/promoter of the East Kettering Sustainable Urban…

The outbreak of Covid-19 has impacted the planning industry in a range of ways; David Lock discusses how in an…

David Lock on what might be done, at local and national levels, to make progress on the crucial issue of the…

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Planning Magazine Award for Plan Making for our work on the Strategic…

In February, HM Government published the Freeports Consultation¹ with the strapline "boosting trade, jobs and…

DLA's Mark Prestige has been 3D printing face shield visor pieces for the NHS.

Working on behalf of Urban&Civic and alongside Juice Architects, DLA has secured reserved matters approval for the…

DLA is acting to minimise the infection risk to staff, clients and other professional contacts; and to maintain our…

With some pride we can report that our sister company in Australia, known for the past 22 years as DLA Australia, is…

We must be open to fresh thinking on the management of the use of land, says David Lock.

Acting on behalf of Hallam Land Management Ltd., DLA has received planning consent for a high quality, mixed use…

Working on behalf of Brickhill Homes, DLA has obtained reserved matters approval for ten dwellings in the village of…

Enterprise Zones were reintroduced in 2011, and a requirement upon acceptance of Enterprise Zone (EZ) status was that…

David Lock on Welwyn Garden City's origins and its Centenary celebrations in 2020.

This week sees the publication of DLA’s MK2050 Milton Keynes Strategic Growth Study, undertaken as background evidence…

A report one year on from the Raynsford Review, looking at how Planning has evolved since its publication, has been…

On behalf of Calthorpe Estates, DLA has secured detailed planning permission for a new children's cancer treatment…

After another year of excellent planning and masterplanning by our talented and hard-working team, DLA is delighted to…

DLA's Planning Associate Joseph Carr features in the latest Sports Management magazine talking about our work with…

DLA's Managing Partner Julia Foster will be joining an incredible line up of speakers at today's UK Active National…

An outline planning application for Welborne Garden Village has received a 'resolution to grant' by Fareham Borough…

DLA's Owen Reading is in Kyiv this week supporting our sister company ITP on a World Bank funded rapid transit project…

DLA will be visiting universities in London, Sheffield and Newcastle over the next few weeks looking to recruit…

DLA has negotiated reserved matters and listed building consent for a 6FE secondary / 6th form school at Houlton,…

David Lock Associates has secured, under delegated powers, full planning permission for Cambridgeshire County Council's…

As we enter the 2019 recruitment season, and the prospect of applying for a graduate role nears, we thought we'd share…

e all know that the providing enough houses in places that are attractive and where there is a chance to work and put…

David Lock Associates (DLA) has secured Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council's approval for its outline planning…

David Lock Associates has recently (05.09.2019) secured full planning permission for 233 dwellings at Barrow, near…

The refurbishment of our building has almost reached the halfway point!

NHS England has launched new guidance - Putting Health into Place - to draw together these two disciplines to achieve…

The repair and restoration of the Grade II listed Watch Office at Alconbury Weald has been completed following work by…

David Lock Associates has secured full planning permission for the demolition of a derelict former Scout Hall and its…

DLA has secured Cornwall Council's approval of the Reserved Matters for a first phase of comprehensive regeneration at…

Lichfield District Council has appointed David Lock Associates to help drive forward the creation of a new master plan…

David Lock reviews some of the policy ideas for the new Prime Minister put forward by the influential centre-right…

From 22nd July we will be carrying out extensive building works to our office to completely refurbish our reception and…

A new guide on how the planning system can help provide opportunities for everyone to be physically active has been…

Since 2011, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published annual statistics of the Green…

A public consultation on the future of Hinckley town centre's public spaces has been launched this weekend (21/06/19).…

David Lock suggests that the increasingly familiar charging infrastructure for electric vehicles may quickly become…

I read the recent announcements that the Commission for BBBB have decided to start their activities with a 'call for…

David Lock Associates has announced a number of Planning promotions.

South Cambridgeshire District Council yesterday resolved to grant planning permission for a new settlement at…

DLA is excited to be able to offer an additional service to our clients following the success of our Systems Designer…

I recently took part in a panel discussion with Planning Futures[1] on the topic of planning for SME builders. Since…

Congratulations to DLA's Assistant Urban Designer and Planner Helen Hepher who has recently been awarded a Fred Roche…

David Lock looks at whether driverless vehicles will solve our transport problems.

A master plan prepared by DLA for a new garden neighbourhood adjoining Beccles and Worlingham in East Suffolk has been…

DLA's masterplanning tool CHLOE has been shortlisted in the 2019 Planning Awards for 'Use of New Technology in…

DLA’s Owen Reading has won the award in the student category at this year’s National Urban Design Awards.

DLA are delighted to have received recognition at this year's Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards in two…

Partner Heather Pugh appeared as part of a panel to discuss the Oxford to Cambridge Arc at a MOLA (Museum of London…

David Lock Associates are delighted as corporate sponsors of MK Gallery that it is reopening its doors to the public on…

David Lock on stewardship arrangements for public green space and a House of Commons debate on freehold estate fees.

With “beauty” back on the agenda, will design quality be the lynchpin that makes new housing popular? asks Katie…

Click here to read David Lock's article for the TCPA on Wyndham Thomas CBE.

David Lock Associates appeared at a Section 78 appeal hearing last week.

Building work has started on a 2,800-home urban extension to St Neots.

The issue of stewardship - of public assets of all kinds - must be fully addressed, says David Lock.

Brownfield land registers were introduced in 2017 as a way of providing up-to-date and consistent information on…

DLA has won an appeal and had permission granted, on behalf of a private landowner, to build 10 dwellings in the…

Enterprise zones were reintroduced in 2011, and a requirement upon acceptance of Enterprise Zone (EZ) status was that…

Cheshire East Council has approved an Outline application DLA submitted on behalf of Bovis Homes for up to 330 homes to…

DLA has received outline planning permission on behalf of Ipswich Borough Council, for 100,000 sq m of employment and…

Stephen Haines, Urban Design Partner at DLA, is currently engaged in an exciting fact-finding project in Yangon,…

Two major milestones in the delivery of infrastructure at Houlton, Rugby have recently been reached, highlighting Urban…

DLA's Assistant Planner Emma Woodhouse has been awarded the RTPI North East Student Award for a group project titled…

The final report on the Raynsford Review of Planning was launched in the House of Lords today (20th November).

In June earlier this year, DLA welcomed 20,000 worker bees and a queen to a new beehive in our garden.

Somewhat under the radar, the government published its response to the NIC’s Partnering for Prosperity in the…

We are pleased to welcome back Andrew Williamson who joins us as a Senior Associate to take up the position of Creative…

“By most measures, Milton Keynes is a highly successful place: growing population, strong average earnings, high Gross…

DLA will be at Cardiff University and the University of Birmingham Careers Fairs this week looking to recruit graduate…

Outline planning consent has been granted for 5,350 new homes at Great Haddon in Peterborough.

DLA recently welcomed back delegates from Hangzhou in China for a study tour of Milton Keynes.The senior urban…

David Lock on the importance of long-term stewardship of community assets within the Garden City model.

In the planning tug-of-war of unattainable housing need and design quality, higher density development should be…

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government track progress of local plans for local planning authorities…

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government track progress of local plans for local planning authorities…

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government track progress of local plans for local planning authorities…

Following her popular 2017 presentation, DLA’s Heather Pugh will again be presenting at this year’s National…

DLA is pleased to be leading the consultant team who submitted an Outline planning application for a series of villages…

David Lock Associates welcomes four new graduates this summer.

On the 21st June, prominent business and public-sector leaders will come together in Milton Keynes for the Oxford…

David Lock Associates has secured reserved matters approval for the Central Primary Street at the Radio Station Rugby…

David Lock Associates has announced a number of promotions.

Plans for a mixed-use scheme to regenerate Hayle Harbour have been submitted to Cornwall Council by David Lock…

The interim report on the Raynsford Review of Planning was released in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 15th May.

Rugby Borough Council has resolved to grant planning permission for a 46,000 m² manufacturing facility at Prospero…

David Lock on questions surrounding the issue of high development densities.

Huntingdonshire District Council has resolved to grant planning permission for a new urban extension at St Neots in…

DLA has obtained Reserved Matters approval for a large, first phase of a 1,000-home southerly extension to Northampton…