Successful conclusion for development in Barrow, Lancashire

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

The Local Plan Inspector’s rejection of two out of the three North Essex Garden Communities again shines a light on a process that is frustratingly not fit for purpose when applied to new settlements. Even if that place is ripe for growth, makes geographic and economic sense and is promoted by local authorities that are creating a governance framework through which to deliver it.

Nottingham City Council was successfully awarded grant funding from the Local Government Association's Building Homes Programme to procure specialist advice to assist in the acceleration and extension of the delivery of homes via the Council's Housing Revenue Account. Part of the grant has been used to commission David Lock Associates (DLA) to consider how social housing can play a key role in delivering large scale developments across the City with some focus on the tenure mix for particular developments.

In less than 90 days, COVID-19 has changed the global logistics economy forever. For decades outdated misconceptions by Councils resulted in the logistics sector being viewed as the Cinderella of the employment uses.

I suspect the wider recovery will begin with WACD (What Amazon Can't Do), the problem is that a lot of this is about socialising and that is likely to be the last thing that will come out of restriction.

DLA is delighted to announce two important promotions. Our colleague Nick Walker is promoted to Lead GIS Specialist, whilst Owen Reading is promoted to Senior Urban Designer.

Following the grant of outline planning permission in December 2019 for development proposals submitted by DLA, L&Q Estates continue to progress in earnest, their scheme for 1,000 new homes at Wykham Park Farm, including bringing forward the physical and social infrastructure needed to support the wider new community at South West Banbury allocated in the Cherwell Local Plan.

David Lock Associates have recently completed the Hinckley Town Centre Public Realm Masterplan for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. Working closely with the Council, Hinckley BID and a range of stakeholders, DLA created the masterplan setting out ideas for potential improvements to the town centre's public realm and key spaces.

As the lockdown reduces pressure on the natural world, DLA's Owen Reading recalls a trip to Chernobyl, where nature's reclaiming of the city is beautifully illustrated in his photographs.

Spelthorne Borough Council has appointed a team led by town planning and urban design experts David Lock Associates to prepare a masterplan for the town centre of Staines-upon-Thames.